Cam Ward, DJ Uiagalelei headline the ACC QBs who will determine conference championship

Jim Phillips was bound to be flooded with questions about the futures of Florida State and Clemson on Monday, so in a bit of a strategic PR marketing, the league promoted its Media Days by declaring itself “The Conference of Quarterbacks.”

The ACC certainly boasts some interesting quarterbacks this year, but the SEC would perhaps like a word about such a bold statement. 

It is true that no league can — or will — measure up to the league’s sheer volume of quarterbacks. The ACC now has 17 teams with the additions of Cal, SMU and Stanford, and somehow 19 quarterbacks will attend ACC Media Days this week. 

Florida State isn’t bringing DJ Uiagalelei, yet Cal (Fernando Mendoza and Chandler Rogers), Duke (Maalik Murphy and Grayson Loftis) and North Carolina (Max Johnson and Conner Harrell) made the unique decisions to bring two QBs each who are set to square-off in fall camp.

The rest of the league’s signal-callers will also get their shine in the spotlight, including ACC newcomers Cam Ward (Miami), Grayson McCall (NC State), Tyler Shough (Louisville) and Preston Stone (SMU). 

In a league where over half a dozen teams viably expect to compete for a conference championship this fall, QB-play could be paramount to which programs make a return trip to Charlotte in December. 

The ACC quarterbacks set to determine the race to the conference championship:

Cade Klubnik, Clemson

No quarterback in the conference faces more pressure to prove he’s the guy than Klubnik. The former 5-star is just 10-5 as a starter and averaged the lowest yards per attempt (6.3) among all ACC QBs in 2023. Klubnik has had issues with turnovers and his ‘Checkdown Charlie’ approach hasn’t helped jumpstart a Clemson attack still stuck in the past. Klubnik’s development (and the ability to bring the best out of the weapons around him) could be the difference between Clemson winning its ninth ACC Title under Dabo Swinney or the Tigers losing multiple conference games for the second year in a row.

DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State

The former Clemson quarterback returns to the ACC with hopes of leading the Seminoles to back-to-back championships. Uiagalelei has big shoes to filling replacing Jordan Travis, but Mike Norvell specifically targeted the veteran quarterback because of what he could bring to FSU’s offense. While Uiagalelei isn’t the raw athlete Travis was, he still provides a number in the run game and he’s a better vertical passer. Accuracy will never be one of Uiagalelei’s strengths (career 58% completion). But in an offense likely to lean on a deep set of tailbacks, if he can hit on more explosive plays, then Florida State should walk back to Charlotte this fall.

Haynes King, Georgia Tech

A strange addition to this grouping? Possibly, but King — and Georgia Tech as a team — could be a real wild card in the race to the ACC Title Game. The Yellowjackets would need a Cinderella season to even sniff Charlotte, but with a schedule that includes FSU (in Ireland in the season-opener), Louisville, Virginia Tech, Miami and NC State, they absolutely could have a real say in who ends up making the championship. Georgia Tech couldn’t stop a nose bleed in 2023, but the Bees had some bite offensively — No. 3 in yards per play, No. 4 in scoring. King led all ACC quarterbacks in touchdowns and interceptions, so if the Texas A&M transfer can cull his turnover woes, Ga. Tech could play spoiler more than once this fall.

Tyler Shough, Louisville

Shough is a sixth-year senior who has never started more than six games in a single season. He’s at his third school (Oregon and Texas Tech) in his third Power Conference. Maybe he’s finally found the right home hitching his wagon to Jeff Brohm? Maybe he’ll have better health luck, too? Talent isn’t a question with Shough, but he’s put himself in harms way far too often. Brohm is on record that Shough will not be an active runner in the Cards’ offense, and considering the weapons he’ll have to work with (Caullin Lacy and Ja’Corey Brooks, among others), the potential is there for Louisville to make a return run to the title game if he can stay upright.

Cam Ward, Miami

Among all ACC quarterbacks, Ward has true Heisman Trophy hopes. The former Wazzu transfer stands to be among the most valuable transfers this past cycle. He had 61 touchdowns in two seasons in Pullman, and now he’s surrounded by a much better supporting cast. No quarterback in the league stands to gain more than Ward this fall if he’s able to lead the ‘Canes to their first conference championship and play his way into a Day 1 NFL Draft pick. His style is a hand-glove fit in Shannon Dawson’s Air Raid scheme, so a monster season could be in store.

Grayson McCall, NC State

The Wolfpack are banking on a renaissance season from McCall, who had a down year in 2023 (just seven starts and only 10 touchdowns to six picks) after three consecutive years with more than 30 total touchdowns and three (or less) interceptions. Can he be the same dynamic quarterback without Jamey Chadwell? We’ll see. On paper, McCall should be a perfect quarterback (heavy RPO, a factor with his legs) for Robert Anae’s system. NC State brings back dynamic wideout KC Concepcion, and the Wolfpack invested heavily in the transfer portal (tailbacks Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers + wideouts Noah Rogers and Wesley Grimes) to make sure McCall doesn’t shoulder all the burden of turning around an anemic attack. If McCall can transform NC State into just an average offense (91st nationally in yards per play in 2023), then the rest of the roster is set to make the program’s first run to the conference championship.

Preston Stone, SMU

In a similar vein to Haynes King and Georgia Tech, Preston Stone has X-factor written all over him this fall. The Mustangs will struggle to truly vie for a title in Year 1 back in a Power Conference, but Rhett Lashlee’s offense will scare plenty of teams this season — particularly because of Stone’s abilities. He was among the highest-ranked QBs in the country last season, per PFF, finishing with 32 total touchdowns on 9.3 yards per attempt. If he can continue similar play in a tougher conference, then the Mustangs could trample a team’s title chase.

Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech

The Hokies are one of the buzziest teams of the offseason thanks to Drones and an offense that ranks No. 1 nationally in returning production. Once Drones replaced Grant Wells in Week 3, Va. Tech’s offense went from the cellar-dweller of the ACC to the middle of the pack by the end of the season. Year 2 as the full-time starter provides even more potential for growth and ascension. With a fairly favorable schedule, the Hokies are eying a darkhorse run back to ACC contention — but it likely hinges on their sophomore quarterback making another leap in 2024.