Ranking the ACC's quarterbacks

Seems like every dude (and dudette) with a laptop comes up with lists and rankings during the offseason.

The proliferation of people with something to say, coupled with the seemingly interminable length of the offseason, makes this stuff pervasive.

The best time to do it is during the season. You know, after you've had a chance to actually watch some of the games.

The ACC has its best collection of quarterbacks I can remember, so there were plenty of folks ranking these guys over the summer.

Five games in (and four games in, in some cases), is a good time to throw out a pecking order.

(A brief primer on how I evaluate these guys: I try to rely less on stats and more on what I've seen from them and how clutch they've been. I also take into account supporting cast. Duke's Sean Renfree, for example, gets graded on a bit of a curve because he's an elite quarterback playing on a bad team).

Here's my Top 10:

1. Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech--He's been the catalyst in leading the Hokies back from 17-point deficits against Boise State and N.C. State. He's also second on the team in rushing with 322 yards on the ground, including a 71-yarder in last week's win in Raleigh.

2. Russell Wilson, N.C. State-- He's been spectacular, no doubt. Put this kid at Florida or Ohio State or Texas, and he's a prime Heisman candidate. But he made some bone-headed decisions against Virginia Tech, and that's why he's second to Taylor. You just can't throw the ball up for grabs as much as he did last week.

3. Christian Ponder, Florida State--This is where ranking the ACC's quarterbacks gets really difficult. Ponder hasn't looked great so far -- hard to believe the Seminoles' longest completion is just 38 yards -- but he suffers from a lack of dynamic receivers. This is a shaky pick, but Ponder gets the nod here because he's so versatile and has a solid command of Jimbo Fisher's offense.

4. T.J. Yates, North Carolina-- Never thought this guy would be in contention for the top six, let alone the top four. But Yates has been really good so far, most notably in the narrow loss to LSU (28-of-46, 412 yards). So many people handed this job to Bryn Renner, but Yates has put that talk to rest.

5. Jacory Harris, Miami-- Never bought the Heisman hype surrounding this guy before the season. He alternates between awesome and awful with his poor decision-making, and the roller-coaster ride has to have shaved a few years off of Mark Whipple's life.

6. Kyle Parker, Clemson-- Everyone knows I'm a huge Kyle Parker fan. Love the arm. Love the on-field demeanor. Love the ability to recover from bad plays. The kid is quite capable of vaulting near the top of this list as the season progresses, but so far he's been inconsistent. The bruised ribs he suffered at Auburn have to be taken into consideration. And so does the lack of separation at receiver.

7. Sean Renfree, Duke-- Watching this guy, you're struck with the same tantalizing question that occurs when you watch Russell Wilson: What if he were throwing darts at an elite school? The sophomore has had some hiccups this year -- nine interceptions in five games -- but he looks to be the real deal.

8. Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech-- Who have thunk this before the season? This ranking might be excessively low, because Nesbitt is a terror running Paul Johnson's triple option. But the guy has completed less than 40 percent of his passes. It seemed like a virtual miracle when he threw for the game-winning score last week at Wake Forest.

9. Ted Stachitas, Wake Forest--He's been clanged-up so far this season -- what Demon Deacons quarterback hasn't? -- but he's a heckuva runner.

10. Tanner Price, Wake Forest--Thought about Maryland's Danny O'Brien or Virginia's Marc Verica for this spot. Price's numbers haven't been good, but I fall in love with big arms and he has one.

Some quick Friday linkage...

At The ACC Sports Journal, David Glenn chats with Dabo Swinney.

Here's a piece on Yates.

Before he started having to answer questions about Blake, North Carolina coach Butch Davis spent a good portion of his time with the media alternately opening and closing the door to playing Renner in the opener against LSU. It seemed like the question wasn't if Yates would lose the starting job, it was when.

Yet a month into the season, the bright spot among the dark clouds for the Tar Heels has unquestioningly been Yates.

Blessed with a stronger offensive line and more experienced receivers, the senior has returned to the form that two years ago made him one of the most efficient passers in the country before he broke his ankle - and in the process, he answered his critics and confounded his doubters.

"I guess a little bit, but that wasn't one of my goals," Yates said this week. "I'm not trying to get back at my critics. I'm trying to get better for myself and my team. It's got nothing to do with any personal grudges."

The NCAA's probe of North Carolina could last a year. Whoa.

Speaking to the UNC system's Board of Governors for the second straight month, Thorp also said football coach Butch Davis and his staff need to know more about what their players are doing away from the playing field.

"Coach Davis knows he has a lot of work to do," Thorp said. "It does concern me deeply that he didn't know about some of the things going on."

And about Davis' nanny/tutor:

University officials declined to renew the tutor's contract in July 2009 after she appeared to foster friendships with football players in violation of guidelines set out for tutors. She continued to work for Davis until last spring.

"Even after she was separated, she continued to have contact with our players, which is not allowed," Thorp said Thursday.

Asked if it was appropriate for Davis to use a tutor who also worked with his players, Thorp said, "No."

Boston College's Chase Rettig returned to practice earlier this week and hopes to play Saturday against N.C. State.

Clemson isn't the only team with issues at linebacker. Georgia Tech is starting its third player at middle linebacker in six games.

In The Post and Courier, Travis Sawchik wonders: What would've happened had Clemson gone with the younger receivers earlier?

I'll go ahead an concede I was wrong about Bo Pelini at Nebraska. Paul Johnson would've been a great fit, but Pelini isn't exactly the bust that I foresaw when the Cornhuskers hired him.

Time for some breakfast...



LW