{"id":42434,"date":"2025-07-06T03:57:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T03:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/42434\/"},"modified":"2025-07-06T03:57:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T03:57:11","slug":"the-sporting-news-ranks-acc-quarterbacks-first-to-last-for-2025-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/42434\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sporting News ranks ACC quarterbacks first to last for 2025 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Entering the 2025 college football season, the ACC boasts big-time quarterbacks in Clemson<\/strong>\u2018s Cade Klubnik<\/strong>, Miami<\/strong>\u2018s Carson Beck<\/strong> and SMU<\/strong>\u2018s Kevin Jennings<\/strong> just to name a few.<\/p>\n

Klubnik and Jennings led their respective programs to a College Football Playoff appearance last season, while Beck led Georgia<\/a><\/strong> to the SEC Championship before suffering a season-ending injury.<\/p>\n

The Sporting News\u00a0ranked the 16 ACC starting quarterbacks for the upcoming season, featured below.<\/p>\n

Clemson<\/strong>\u2018s\u00a0Cade Klubnik<\/strong>\u00a0enters the 2025 season as\u00a0The Sporting News\u2018 No. 1 ranked quarterback in the ACC.<\/p>\n

As a junior in 2024, Klubnik passed for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He is one of only three two-time ACC Championship Game MVPs all-time and ranks in the top five in\u00a0Clemson<\/strong>\u00a0history in nearly every passing category. \u201cI came to Clemson to win [a National Championship], and it\u2019d be really cool,\u201d Klubnik told On3\u2019s Pete Nakos<\/a>. \u201cBut I think more than anything, I want to be remembered for the person I was off the field as well, and the impact that I had on people. Because I think that\u2019s going to carry on for a long time, too. To do both of those would be really awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Haynes King<\/strong> returns to Georgia Tech<\/strong> this season for his sixth and final year of college football.<\/p>\n

Over his first two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, King has passed for 4,956 yards, 41 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Since the beginning of the 2023 season, Georgia Tech<\/strong> is 14-10 in games the Longview, TX native has started in. \u201cI\u2019m not the one to mainly focus on individual accolades or individual success,\u201d King told On3\u2019s Pete Nakos<\/a>. \u201cIf your team\u2019s having success, that stuff is going to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

After spending his first four seasons at Georgia<\/a><\/strong>, Carson Beck<\/strong> is heading to Miami<\/strong> for his final year of college football.<\/p>\n

Beck won back-to-back National Championships (2021 & 2022) as Stetson Bennett<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s backup and was named a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2023. In two seasons as Georgia<\/strong>\u2018s starter (2023 & 2024), he threw for 7,426 yards, 52 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He\u2019ll be replacing Cam Ward<\/a><\/strong>, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

SMU<\/strong>\u2018s Kevin Jennings<\/strong> is one of two returning ACC quarterbacks that led their team to a College Football Playoff appearance last season (Klubnik).<\/p>\n

Jennings, who was named a Third Team All-ACC selection last season, passed for 3,245 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2024. He also rushed for 354 yards and five scores. He struggled mightily in SMU<\/strong>\u2018s College Football Playoff First Round loss to Penn State<\/a><\/strong> however, as he tossed three interceptions.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Scott Utterback\/Courier Journal \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Two years after dropping 372 passing yards and six touchdowns on Louisville<\/strong> in the 2023 Holiday Bowl, Miller Moss<\/strong> will spend his final year of eligibility playing for Jeff Brohm<\/a><\/strong> and the Cardinals.<\/p>\n

In four seasons at USC<\/a><\/strong>, Moss passed for 3,469 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. \u201cI think he can throw a good football, he\u2019s played a lot of games, he has a ton of experience,\u201d\u00a0Brohm said in February<\/a>. \u201c[Miller\u2019s] had ups and downs, kind of like\u00a0Tyler (Shough)<\/a><\/strong>, kind of like\u00a0Jack (Plummer)<\/a><\/strong>, but I think he\u2019s played against good football teams, and he\u2019s been battle tested, and I think he\u2019s picked up what we\u2019ve done to this point very well.\u201d<\/p>\n

After emerging as one of the best freshmen quarterbacks in the country last season at Tulane<\/a><\/strong>, Darian Mensah<\/strong> transferred to Duke<\/strong> in the offseason.<\/p>\n

Mensah passed for 2,723 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading the Green Wave to the AAC Championship game. \u201c[Duke<\/strong>] had a clear vision for me that they set out,\u201d Mensah told On3\u2019s Pete Nakos<\/a>. \u201cI liked that. Coach Manny [Diaz]<\/a><\/strong> has a defensive mind, and just having that perspective when watching film. We try to watch tape two to three times a week, and having an elite defensive perspective when it comes to knowing defenses is crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n

Veteran quarterback Chandler Morris<\/strong> will spend his sixth and final season of college football with his fourth different program.<\/p>\n

In his five seasons with Oklahoma<\/a><\/strong> (one), TCU<\/a><\/strong> (three) and North Texas<\/a><\/strong> (one), Morris boasts 6,207 career passing yards, 47 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He is coming off the best year of his career with the Mean Green in 2024, as he passed for 3,774 yards, 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Steve Roberts-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Virginia Tech<\/strong>\u2018s Kyron Drones<\/strong> returns to Blacksburg this season for his third year as the Hokies\u2019 starting quarterback. He did not play in their final three games of the 2024 season due to a back injury.<\/p>\n

Over his first two seasons, Drones boasts 3,647 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He\u2019s also compiled 1,154 rushing yards and 11 scores on the ground. With Drones at quarterback, Virginia Tech<\/strong> is 12-11 since the beginning of the 2023 season<\/p>\n

Grayson James<\/strong>, who took over the Boston College<\/strong> starting quarterback role from Thomas Castellanos<\/strong> on November 16 last season, opens the 2025 season as the Eagles\u2019 starter.<\/p>\n

In the three games James started last season, he passed for 746 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Boston College<\/strong> was 1-2 in games he started, including a loss to Nebraska<\/a><\/strong> in the Pinstripe Bowl.<\/p>\n

Thomas Castellanos<\/strong>, who transferred to Florida State<\/strong> from Boston College<\/strong>, is ranked one spot lower than the quarterback that took his starting job.<\/p>\n

He started Boston College<\/strong>\u2018s first eight games last season, passing for 1,366 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. \u201cWe need to get back to that mentality of ACC championship, to a good playoff run, to a national championship,\u201d Castellanos told On3\u2019s Pete Nakos<\/a>. \u201cBut for me, I know I have the skill set to be a Heisman contender. To be up in New York.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Bob Donnan-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

CJ Bailey<\/strong>, fresh off a successful freshman campaign, is back for his second season as the starter at NC State<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Last season, Bailey passed for 2,413 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 279 yards and five scores. He led the Wolfpack to a 6-7 record and a 26-21 loss to East Carolina<\/a><\/strong> in the Go Bowling Military Bowl. His best performance in 2024 came in the Wolfpack\u2019s 24-23 win over California<\/strong>, in which he passed for 306 yards and two touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, The Sporting News has tabbed Max Johnson<\/strong> as North Carolina<\/strong>\u2018s starting quarterback over South Alabama<\/a><\/strong> transfer Gio Lopez<\/a><\/strong>. New Tar Heel coach Bill Belichick<\/a><\/strong> has yet to reveal whether Johnson or Lopez will start in their season opener against TCU<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Johnson, who is at his third program, broke his leg in\u00a0Carolina\u2018s season opener against\u00a0Minnesota<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0last season. In five seasons (two at\u00a0LSU<\/a><\/strong>, two at\u00a0Texas A&M<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and UNC), he has thrown for 5,923 yards, 47 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.<\/p>\n

Eli Holstein<\/strong>, just like NC State<\/strong>\u2018s CJ Bailey<\/strong>, is returning for his sophomore season and second season as QB1.<\/p>\n

The Zachary, LA native passed for 2,225 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2024. The Panthers won in Holstein\u2019s first seven starts, but lost their next three games he started. He suffered a season-ending left leg injury during the first quarter of Pitt<\/strong>\u2018s 37-9 loss to Louisville<\/strong> after being sacked by defensive end Ashton Gillotte<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo via Syracuse Athletics<\/p>\n

Baton Rouge, LA native Rickie Collins<\/strong> spent his first two collegiate seasons as a backup at LSU<\/a><\/strong>, but transferred to Syracuse<\/strong> in the offseason to replace Kyle McCord<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Collins has taken just seven career snaps, passing for 38 yards. \u201cHe seems to be moving into (being) the leader of our football team,\u201d head coach Fran Brown<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0said<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m liking what I\u2019m seeing. I think the players are behind him, everyone\u2019s behind him. So, it seems like he\u2019s going to be our quarterback.<\/p>\n

Devin Brown<\/strong> is yet another career backup quarterback transferring to the ACC for a starting job.<\/p>\n

Brown spent three seasons at Ohio State<\/a><\/strong>, where he attempted just 48 passes for 331 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception. He was\u00a0the No. 24 ranked QB<\/a>\u00a0and the No. 228 overall transfer in On3\u2019s Transfer Portal Rankings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Former Auburn<\/a><\/strong> and South Carolina<\/a><\/strong> quarterback Robby Ashford<\/strong> has finally departed the SEC and will start at Wake Forest<\/strong> this season.<\/p>\n

Over three campaigns, Ashford boasts 2,082 career passing yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. \u201cJust what coach [Jake] Dickert<\/a><\/strong> is building and his vision for the program and wanting to win now, and the opportunity to come in and be the guy,\u201d Ashford said when asked why he transferred to Wake<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Stanford<\/strong>\u2018s\u00a0Elijah Brown<\/strong>\u00a0enters the 2025 season as\u00a0The Sporting News\u2018 lowest ranked quarterback in the ACC.<\/p>\n

As a freshman in 2024, Brown passed for 274 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. With Andrew Luck<\/a><\/strong> taking over as Stanford<\/strong>\u2018s GM, Cardinal fans can only hope Luck and interim head coach Frank Reich<\/a><\/strong> cane help Brown make a leap as a solid quarterback in the conference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Entering the 2025 college football season, the ACC boasts big-time quarterbacks in Clemson\u2018s Cade Klubnik, Miami\u2018s Carson Beck…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":42435,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[1839,33360,33361,33362,33363,33364,33365,33366,1318,33367,33368,33369,33370,33371,33372,1317,1315,1316,33373,33374,62,33375,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-42434","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-cade-klubnik-22-westlake","9":"tag-carson-beck-20-mandarin","10":"tag-chandler-morris-20-highland-park","11":"tag-cj-bailey-24-chaminade-madonna-prep","12":"tag-darian-mensah-23-st-joseph","13":"tag-devin-brown-22-corner-canyon","14":"tag-eli-holstein-23-zachary","15":"tag-elijah-brown-22-wayne","16":"tag-football","17":"tag-grayson-james-21-duncanville","18":"tag-haynes-king-20-longview","19":"tag-kevin-jennings-22-south-oak-cliff","20":"tag-kyron-drones-21-shadow-creek","21":"tag-max-johnson-20-prince-avenue-christian-school","22":"tag-miller-moss-21-bishop-alemany","23":"tag-ncaa","24":"tag-ncaa-football","25":"tag-ncaafootball","26":"tag-rickie-collins-23-woodlawn","27":"tag-robby-ashford-20-hoover","28":"tag-sports","29":"tag-thomas-castellanos-22-ware-county","30":"tag-united-states","31":"tag-unitedstates","32":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42434\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}