This upcoming season, the ACC will have some great QB play. Headlined by future probable top overall pick, Trevor Lawrence, the ACC quarterbacks will definitely put up some huge numbers. Some are expected. Some will surprise. So let’s get to the ACC QBs ranked for 2020.
1. Trevor Lawrence – Clemson
Lawrence could’ve been a first round pick after his Freshman season, but here he is back in CFB for his Junior year. He’s thrown for 3,665 yards, 36 TDs, and rushed for 563 yards and 9 TDs in his career. He’s a National Champion & proven winner. I expect him to be the number 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft – a prediction I made in 2019 so I’m sticking with it.
2. Sam Howell – UNC
Howell was the biggest breakout QB of 2019. He won ACC Rookie of the Year after throwing for 3,641 yards 38 TDs with just 7 INTs. Howell started a trend of top recruits opting for the Tar Heels and for that he’s one of my favorite players. His main weapons, Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown, return so I’d expect Howell to have another monster season.
3. D’eriq King – Miami
King was a big pickup for the Canes who did not have quality QB play in 2019. In his career at Houston, King threw for 4,925 yds and 50 TDs while adding 1,421 rushing yds 28 TDs on the ground. His play in 2020 will be crucial towards the Cane’s success in the Coastal.
4. Micale Cunningham – Louisville
Cunningham had a breakout season in 2019 and established himself as one of the top QBs in CFB. Last season he threw for 2,061 yards and 22 TDs while adding 482 yards and 6 TDs on the ground. I expect another big season from Micale in 2020.
5. Hendon Hooker – Virginia Tech
Hooker went 6-2 as a starter last season. After he won the starting job for the Hokies their offense ran much more smoothly. Last season Hooker threw for 1,555 yards and 13 TDs and rushed for 356 yards with 5 TDs. In year 2 as a starter I expect Hooker to take another step in his development and improve his Draft Stock.
6. Sam Hartman – Wake Forest
Losing Jamie Newman doesn’t hurt as bad when you have a QB like Sam Hartman replacing him. Hartman has 2,814 passing yards and 20 TDs with 364 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs in 2 seasons. Hartman is a player you should target in Fantasy Football especially with playmaking WR Sage Surratt returning.
7. Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh
Pickett threw for 3,098 yards and 13 TDs in 2019 and added 2 TDs on the ground. Pickett threw for just 543 yds less than my #2 pick, Sam Howell, but had 25 less TDs. The Pitt Offense ranked 124th in finishing drives, so Pickett will look to improve on that 2020. Overall Pickett is a solid college QB but his ceiling isn’t as high as some others on this list.
8. Chase Brice – Duke
Brice is someone I’m extremely excited to watch in 2020. The Blue Devils are a team hard to predict because they’ll go as far as Brice can take them. At Clemson he had 9 TDs and carried them to a crucial victory over Syracuse in 2018. Brice is at #8 but has the potential to move up this list – especially with David Cutcliffe as his coach.
9. Tommy Devito – Syracuse
Devito threw for 2,360 yards and 19 TDs and added 2 touchdowns on the ground in 2019. Unfortunately, that does not meet the standards of a Dino Baber’s offense. Last season Syracuse ranked 102nd in overall explosiveness and 89th in finishing drives. Devito has a lot of potential but needs to play better in 2020.
10. Brennan Armstrong / Keytaon Thompson – UVA
They call him a young Tebow in Charlottesville. The Lefty use to wear #98 but now wears #10. He has big shoes to fill if he wins the starting job, as Bryce Perkins has moved on to the NFL. Last season he threw for 196 yards and a touchdown in mop-up duty. His potential is very high, however there are still many unknowns to his game.
Thompson, a former 4⭐ recruit transferred to UVA from Mississippi State. In his time at MSU his passing percentage was 50/105 (47.6%) with 846 passing yards yards and 8 TDs. He also added 672 rushing yards & 10 rushing TDs. Thompson is a big wild card if he wins the job as he brings a lot to the table.
11. James Blackman – FSU
Blackman has a total of 23 career starts under his belt thus far. He ended last season with a total of 2,339 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns but also had 11 INTs. Turnovers have been a problem for Blackman who has a career total of 23 picks. However, he does have plenty of upside and the Nole’s star WR Tamorrian Terry is returning.
12. Dennis Grosel – Boston College
Grosel is a former walk-on that has a chance to make a big name for himself in 2020. Last season he had 983 passing yards and 9 TDs while adding 209 yards and 2 TDs on the ground.
13. James Graham – Georgia Tech
The former 4 ⭐ went through plenty of learning curves last season as a Freshman. He only completed 45% of his passes but threw for 1,164 yds and 12 TDs and added 3 more TDs on the ground. He’s got a big arm & should improve exponentially in year 2. Although he is ranked next to last he has the potential to finish the season in the top 10.
14. Devin Leary – NC State
Leary a former 4 ⭐ recruit in the 2018 class from New Jersey got a chance to play in 2019 as a Redshirt Freshman. He struggled completing just 48% of his passes while throwing for just 8 touchdowns. In 2020, I expect his completion percentage and overall gameplay to drastically improve.
