The ACC quarterback class for the 2022 college football season could also be one of many extra stacked items in all of CFB. Most significantly, most of those ACC QBs aren’t ushering in any new eras, however reasonably establishing what a terrific and sustainable path of development may be for some applications as they give the impression of being to achieve the higher echelon of the convention. The place does every program land within the race to the highest of the ACC forward of the 2022 school soccer season?
Prime ACC QBs in 2022 | 1-14
Hailing from our preseason top quarterback rankings on the FBS stage, the beginning quarterbacks from the ACC landed as follows:
1) Devin Leary, NC State
2) Malik Cunningham, Louisville
3) Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FL)
4) Brennan Armstrong, Virginia
5) Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
6) Phil Jurkovec, Boston School
7) Kedon Slovis, Pittsburgh
8) Grant Wells, Virginia Tech
9) Jordan Travis, Florida State
10) Garrett Shrader, Syracuse
11) Jeff Sims & Zach Gibson, Georgia Tech
12) DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson
13) Jacolby Criswell & Drake Maye, North Carolina
14) Riley Leonard & Jordan Moore, Duke
And right here’s how they ranked nationally amongst all their friends:
4) Devin Leary, NC State
5) Malik Cunningham, Louisville
11) Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
16) Brennan Armstrong, Virginia
19) Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
20) Phil Jurkovec, Boston School
28) Kedon Slovis, Pittsburgh
44) Grant Wells, Virginia Tech
53) Jordan Travis, Florida State
68) Garrett Shrader, Syracuse
82) Jeff Sims & Zach Gibson, Georgia Tech
111) DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson
121) Jacolby Criswell & Drake Maye, North Carolina
122) Riley Leonard & Jordan Moore, Duke
With this data at hand, we will take an incredible take a look at which matchups might convey essentially the most pleasure to the 2022 ACC schedule. Which video games ought to we be most excited for, and why must you make sure you tune on this fall? Let’s take it week by week.
Week 1: Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
This one might not look like it on paper, however that is the place we actually get to see if DJ Uiagalelei is going to last as the starter for the Clemson Tigers. It’s additionally a recreation that can give us perception into who the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are going to run with in 2022. Is it the incumbent in Jeff Sims or will Akron-transfer Zach Gibson unseat him? Quite a lot of questions will probably be answered on Monday night time when the primary week of the faculty season involves a detailed in Atlanta.
Week 2: Louisville vs. UCF + Boston School vs. Virginia Tech
A double dose of motion as Malik Cunningham takes on UCF on Friday night time and Boston School travels to Virginia Tech on Saturday. Cunningham brings with him the highest dual-threat potential within the nation and should have to make use of his legs in opposition to a reasonably stout UCF secondary.
Can Phil Jurkovec and the Eagles go for 300+ yards in opposition to a brand new protection at Virginia Tech? And simply how nicely will Grant Wells fare in his first convention recreation because the Hokies’ starter?
Week 3: Miami (FL) vs. Texas A&M + Texas Tech vs. NC State
The Miami Hurricanes have an opportunity to rewrite their historical past books with Tyler Van Dyke on the helm. He has to journey to one of many notoriously troublesome locations to play in all of sports activities once they head to School Station in opposition to Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies.
In the meantime, the Wolfpack host Texas Tech and top-30 QB Tyler Shough in opposition to the ACC’s prime quarterback. In out-of-conference video games final yr, Devin Leary threw eight touchdowns and averaged 261.2 yards per recreation.
Week 4: West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech
West Virginia and Virginia Tech will each be breaking in switch quarterbacks. Nevertheless, the Mountaineers have the baked-in nature of familiarity between JT Daniels and his former offensive coordinator Graham Harrell now each in Morgantown. Can Brent Pry’s protection restrict the Air Raid offense, and the way will Wells be faring come 4 weeks of motion via September?
Week 5: Louisville vs. Boston School
A giant midseason take a look at for each ACC QBs as every protection spots some gifted gamers. Will Cunningham and Co. be capable of run up the rating in Chestnut Hill as these Lamar-Jackson-era groups did? What number of yards will the Jurkovec-led Eagles should throw to maintain tempo with the nation’s prime dual-threat quarterback?
Week 6: Military vs. Wake Forest
Positive, it’s an out-of-conference recreation right here through the peak of convention play, however bear in mind the final time these two groups performed? Sam Hartman threw for 5 touchdowns and 458 yards in opposition to the Black Knights final season. It wasn’t as a result of Military was poor on protection, it was as a result of the Demon Deacs needed to put up 70 factors as Military ran for 56 factors of their very own. A barnburner to each extent, Hartman might put up video-game numbers but once more in Week 6.
Week 7: North Carolina vs. Duke
We’ll should have solutions as to who’s beginning for every program by Week 7. And when these two rivals take middle stage throughout most ACC groups’ bye week, they’ll have the prospect to climb the convention rankings.
Whether or not it’s Riley Leonard or Jordan Moore for Duke and Jacolby Criswell or Drake Maye for North Carolina isn’t the largest query right here. It’s who can beat their rival to probably salvage some ethical victories for his or her staff in 2022?
Week 8: Pittsburgh vs. Louisville
One more must-see Louisville recreation — are you sensing a theme right here? Cunningham will draw tons of eyes, however the man for Pittsburgh this yr can do the identical. Kedon Slovis has elite potential in his proper arm. In 2021, with USC, Slovis’ strongest swimsuit was being compelled to play from behind, and there’s a great likelihood he’ll do the identical on this recreation with Cunningham working the rating up.
Week 9: Miami (FL) vs. Virginia
This recreation final yr was an unimaginable matchup as Brennan Armstrong bought the higher of Van Dyke and the ‘Canes. Will Van Dyke precise some revenge, or will the highly effective left-hander proceed his dominance in opposition to the convention? One factor is for positive, with these two groups taking part in, there will probably be loads of fireworks.
Week 10: Wake Forest vs. NC State
In what’s going to doubtless have huge ACC Atlantic implications, the convention’s prime quarterback takes on Hartman and the Demon Deacs in early November. Once more, anticipate fireworks, however anticipate to additionally see the cream of the crop begin to draw back from the remainder of the pack. The one downside right here is the truth that each Hartman and Leary are the cream of the crop.
Week 11: Pittsburgh vs. Virginia
Two polar reverse quarterbacks who’ve the prospect to every throw for 400 yards. This recreation writes itself as a enjoyable one to look at, however will the Panthers be up for stopping Armstrong and Co.? Or will Slovis should throw for season-highs in opposition to a Cavs staff that may put up factors in a rush. It’s an fascinating matchup that additionally has big-time convention implications.
Week 12: NC State vs. Louisville
It’s out-of-conference week for many within the ACC right here in Week 12, however not for the highest two QBs. Rating No. 4 and No. 5 nationally, Leary and Cunningham, respectively, might give us the sport of the yr in mid-November.
Each gamers rank first and second, respectively, in our preseason prime quarterbacks checklist, and if all goes to plan, they need to keep there for a lot of the season. This one is as thrilling as they arrive on paper this early.
Week 13: Rivalry Week
Rivalry Week comes for Week 13 and offers the ACC followers a better take a look at among the prime matchups. Reasonably than choose only one or two, pay attention to the fascinating quarterback matchups that Rivalry Week brings in 2022.
FSU vs. No. 22 Anthony Richardson and Florida
Georgia Tech vs. No. 46 Stetson Bennett and Georgia
Clemson hosts No. 13 Spencer Rattler and South Carolina
