ACC QB Rankings Through Week 7

1. Tyrod Taylor has played outstanding in the last 3 weeks leading the Hokies to a 3-0 record with wins over NCSU, Central Michigan and Wake Forest. Against NCSU, Taylor had 123 yard passing with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception along with 121 yards on the ground. Against CMU, Taylor tossed for 161 yards and 1 touchdown on top of 127 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Against Wake, Taylor went wild throwing for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns and added another score on the ground. Neither of those 3 teams very good defenses, but Taylor now has 12 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions and is averaging 188 passing yards per game on the season that coupled with his ability to run the football is enough to propel Taylor to the top of the list.

Taylor Ascends To #1

2. T.J. Yates has continued to look outstanding in the last three contests tossing for 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions and has averaged 223 passing yards per game in North Carolina’s victories over ECU, Clemson and Virginia. It is hard to look past Yates 14 TD and 15 INT performances in 2009 and not think that some sort of smoke and mirrors is involved, but it is time that Yates starts getting some respect. Yates has 11 touchdowns and 1 interception on the season while leading the suspension riddled Heels to a surprise 4-2 record. Yates jumps from #7 to #2 on the list just getting the nod over Russell Wilson.

3. Russell Wilson got off to a blazing start to the 2010 season tossing 11 touchdowns and only 1 interception in the first 4 games, but the redshirt junior has fallen back to earth with 8 interception to only 7 touchdowns in the last 3 games. Dana Bible’s system calls for Wilson to throw more deep hot reads when the opposing team blitzes, but Wilson decision making has been questionable on a number of throws in recent weeks.  It is no surprise that with Wilson average play recently, North Carolina State has dropped 2 of 3 and now sits at 5-2 on the season. Wilson has 18 touchdowns and 9 interceptions and is averaging 303 passing yards per game on the season. Wilson drops from #1 to #2 after getting jumped by Taylor.

4. Christian Ponder had an opportunity to leap frog Wilson, but his play over the last 3 weeks has been average. Ponder wasn’t able to top 175 yards in each of the last 3 games while throwing 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. However, most importantly for the Seminoles, Ponder was able to lead the team to a 3-0 record including a dominating victory at Miami. Ponder has 12 TDs to 7 TD to go along with 169 passing yards per game. Ponder will have a big opportunity to make a move up the ranking when Florida State travels to Raleigh to face the Pack next Thursday. Ponder drops from #2 to number #4 on the list after getting jumped by Taylor and Yates.

5. Josh Nesbitt is extremely hard to rank considering Georgia Tech runs the option and rarely throws the ball, but the performance of the offense rests on his shoulders and the Jackets have taken a step-back this year. The offense has looked better the last three games notching wins over Wake Forest, Virginia and MTSU. Nesbitt does have four 100 yard rushing performances and 8 TDs on the ground, but has seen a large drop-off through the air compared to last year. Nesbitt struggled mightily early only completing 32% of his passes in the first four games, but has looks a little better the last 3 completing 47%. Nesbitt moved up to #5 on the list.

6. Kyle Parker was impressive early in the season, but suffered bruised rips in the overtime loss to Auburn and has been mediocre over the last three games. During that timeframe, Parker has completed only 45% of his passes for 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions and the Tiger’s have gone 1-2. Clemson does have issues at wide receiver and that is certainly working against Parker, but Parker accuracy, timing and progressions have also been shaky. Parker now has 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions and is averaging 162 passing yards per game in 2010. Parker falls from #3 to #6 after getting passed by Taylor, Yates and Nesbitt.

7. Jacory Harris has the talent to be one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC, but tends to make too many mistakes throwing the football, which resulted in an ACC high 17 interceptions last year. Harris hasn’t been able to cut-back on the interceptions this year with 9 through 6 games. Harris was pretty good outside of the interceptions the first 3 games completing 63% of his passes, but Harris has struggled in the last 3 games completing only 42% of his attempts. On the season Harris has 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions and is averaging 224 passing yards per game. Harris drops from #5 to #7 after getting passed by Yates and Nesbitt.

The Rest

8. Danny O’Brien - Maryland
9. Sean Renfree - Duke
10. Marc Verica - UVA
11. Tanner Price - Wake
12. Chase Rettig - Boston College