The ACC has been churning out quarterbacks lately with names like Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones, Jameis Winston, Kenny Pickett, and so on. While not being a very strong overall league, or very deep you can consistently count on there being very solid quarterback play in the ACC.
With the season just 45 days away, we are going to take a deep dive and rank the top 5 quarterbacks inside of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
1. Drake Maye | North Carolina
Drake Maye led all ACC quarterbacks in total yards per game with 358.5 and 45 touchdowns (38 passing and 7 rushing) and only threw 7 interceptions. Maye finished the 2022 season with 4,321 passing yards and 698 rushing yards. Drake Maye is in his third season with the Tar Heels and is a legitimate Heisman contender. Maye stands at 6’4” 220 lbs and not only will be one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC but is on the shortlist for possible number 1 overall draft pick after this season. Maye will lose his favorite target from last year in Josh Downs but returns enough receiver help to once again put up very good numbers. The biggest addition for the 2023 UNC offense is one of the top wide receivers in the transfer portal, Devontez Walker from Kent State.
2. Jordan Travis | Florida State
Jordan Travis is one of the most experienced and proven quarterbacks in the ACC coming into the 2023 season. Jordan Travis had a very good 2022 season and is expected to build upon that this year. Travis finished the 2022 campaign with 3,214 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions. Adding to the passing numbers, Travis also gained 417 yards on the ground and tacked on 7 rushing touchdowns. Florida State has been the beneficiary of a lot of offseason hype, and rightfully so after securing their first 10-win season since 2016, finishing 10-3 (5-3 in conference). The Seminoles and Jordan Travis bring back the team’s leading receiver in Johnny Wilson who is 6 ‘7 “and 235 lbs. Wilson caught 43 passes for 897 yards. Travis will also add another big-time weapon to his arsenal in Keon Coleman, a transfer wide receiver from Michigan State. Keon Coleman stands 6’4” 215 lbs and finished the 2022 season with 58 catches for 798 yards and 7 touchdowns. Jordan Travis currently has the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy at +1000 odds.
3. Riley Leonard | Duke
Riley Leonard burst onto the scene last season and led the Duke Blue Devils to a 9-3 season, their best season since the 2014 season when they went 9-4. Riley Leonard last season had 2,967 yards for 20 passing touchdowns and 6 interceptions, finishing with a QBR of 73.7. On top of the passing numbers, Leonard also added 124 rush attempts for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Riley Leonard will have a great opportunity to prove himself on a national stage in week one when Clemson comes into town for a Labor Day night matchup.
4. Cade Klubnik | Clemson
Cade Klubnik will be entering his first season as the full-time starter for the Clemson Tigers. He got very little playing time during the 2022 regular season but got ample playing time in the postseason for the Tigers. Cade came in to take over full-time for DJ Uiagalelei in the ACC Championship game and went 20-24 for 279 yards and 1 passing touchdown while adding 30 yards on the ground and another touchdown. In the Orange Bowl against Tennessee, we saw more of the freshman mistakes that were to be expected with the happy feet and the lack of pocket presence. Cade talked in the offseason that the biggest thing he was working on was his pocket presence and that is expected to be much improved heading into this season. Bring in Garrett Riley to run the offense, a similar offensive style that Cade is using to running from his high school days in Texas, and Cade is expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC.
5. Garrett Shrader | Syracuse
There were a few different options I could have gone with for the number 5 spot in the ACC. Brennan Armstrong, Garrett Shrader, Phil Jurkovec, Tyler Van Dyke.. but it came down to consistency for me. Those other quarterbacks have put up good numbers but have also had really bad seasons as well. For the most part, Garrett Shrader has put up comparable numbers each year and had his best collegiate season last year for the Orange. 2,640 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions alongside 453 rushing yards for 9 more scores.
This should be another good year for quarterback play inside the Atlantic Coast Conference, and we aren’t very far from finally getting back to football season.
