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The ACC likes to tout itself as the Conference of Quarterbacks.
This season, it’s more like the Conference of Transfer Quarterbacks.
Free-agent pickups from the portal played the majority of snaps under center in the opening game for 9 of the league’s 17 teams. They had varying degrees of success, with some of the best performances coming from those getting the least attention in the lead-up to the season.
The good thing about football is that there’s always another game to play. So first impressions aren’t always lasting impressions, especially since many of those quarterbacks will be facing a higher level of competition next week.
But since that’s the first game is all we have to go by for now, let’s take a look back at how they all did and rank the ACC’s transfer quarterbacks 1 through 9.
9. Max Johnson, North Carolina
Johnson, who spent his first 4 seasons between Texas A&M and LSU, was headed for the bottom of this list and may have been on his way to being replaced by Conner Harrell even before suffering a season-ending broken leg late in the 3rd quarter of Thursday’s 19-17 win at Minnesota. The Tar Heels had managed only 179 total yards and 10 points while he was in the game. In his defense, Johnson did appear to be finding a rhythm before getting hurt. And he did run for his team’s only touchdown. Still, his numbers were brutal – 12-of-19 for only 71 yards and an interception with a minuscule quarterback rating of 37.0.
8. DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State
Mike Norvell worked hard trying to land Cam Ward from Washington State. When Ward opted for Sunshine State rival Miami, he settled on Uiagalelei as his 2nd choice. The contrast between the 2 couldn’t have been more pronounced by their debuts for their new teams. While Ward looked every bit the part of a legitimate Heisman candidate in leading his team to a win at Florida, DJU was, well, DJU. The former Oregon State and Clemson quarterback made some nice throws, as he’s been known to do, during the Seminoles’ loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland. But he also showed his trademark inconsistency. While his numbers weren’t terrible, completing 19-of-27 passes for 193 yards and no interceptions, he also didn’t have a touchdown. And his -0.1 air yards per attempt on 14 passes was a glaring example of his difficulty throwing the ball downfield. FSU needs him to play better Monday night vs. Boston College and beyond.
7. Maalik Murphy, Duke
Duke coach Manny Diaz picked Murphy to be the Blue Devils’ starter after spending last season as the backup to Quinn Ewers in a crowded Texas quarterback room. The redshirt sophomore went 26-of-40 for 291 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception in his Duke debut. But he had trouble getting his team into the end zone in a 26-3 win against Elon. And while he finally hit Jordan Moore for 47 yards early in the 3rd quarter, he missed several other opportunities for big plays by overthrowing open receivers on deep shots.
6. Grayson McCall, NC State
The 3-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year took awhile to get comfortable in his first start for the Wolfpack on Thursday. He threw an early pick that led to a Western Carolina touchdown and his timing and touch were a shade off during the first 3 quarters. But with a big assist from star receiver KC Concepcion, he was eventually able to settle in and finish the night looking more like the player State fans thought they were getting from Coastal Carolina. He led his team to 3 4th-quarter touchdowns, finishing the night by going 25-of-42 for 318 yards and 3 scores to rally the Wolfpack to a 38-21 victory.
5. Hank Bachmeier, Wake Forest
Bachmeier didn’t get the opening night start against North Carolina A&T on Thursday, a move that can be interpreted as a show of loyalty by coach Dave Clawson to holdover Michael Kern. But once the Louisiana Tech and Boise State transfer got onto the field, it didn’t take long to show he’s the Deacons’ best option moving forward this season. Taking over midway through the 2nd quarter, Bachmeier energized Wake’s offense, turning a 10-7 deficit into a 45-14 win by completing 18-of-28 for 263 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions.
4. Eli Holstein, Pitt
Unlike Clawson, Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi didn’t bother going through the motions of giving his incumbent quarterback a courtesy start before rolling with his prized transfer pickup. Even though he spent the entire spring and summer pumping up Nate Yarnell, he sent Holstein out to take the first snap against Kent State on Saturday. It’s hard to argue with his decision, as harsh as it might have been. Holstein, a former 4-star recruit who spent last season at Alabama, completed 30-of-40 passes for 333 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 55-24 rout of the Golden Flashes.
3. Kyle McCord, Syracuse
McCord’s arrival from Ohio State has been as much a source of excitement for those around Syracuse’s revitalized program as that of new coach Fran Brown. And the senior who led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record last season didn’t disappoint in his debut in Orange on Saturday. Establishing an early connection with All-ACC tight end Oronde Gadsden II, 1 of 8 receivers to catch at least 1 pass in the game, McCord warmed up after a slow start by throwing for 354 yards and 4 touchdowns while putting up 38 points in a win against Ohio.
2. Tyler Shough, Louisville
The 7th-year graduate from Texas Tech and Oregon picked up right where last year’s transfer Jack Plummer left off. In a big way. His numbers – 18-of-24 and 232 yards – weren’t as gaudy as some of the other quarterbacks on this list. But that’s because he only played 2 quarters before giving way to his backups. In the short time he was in the game, Shough threw 4 touchdown passes and staked the Cardinals to a 38-0 halftime lead. Louisville scored on 6 of his 7 drives in a 62-0 whitewash of Austin Peay.
1. Cam Ward, Miami
Ward was the most sought-after player in the portal this offseason and arrived at The U amid substantial hype. And yet somehow, he managed to raise the bar of expectation even higher with Saturday’s debut at Florida. It’s not just that he completed 74% of his passes for 385 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 41-17 beatdown of the Gators.
It’s the way he did it – showing his mobility in the pocket, throwing balls across his body into tight windows and spreading the ball around to 10 different receivers. It was a masterpiece that vaulted him to the top of the Heisman Trophy conversation and established his Hurricanes as the team to beat in the ACC and a legitimate Playoff contender.
Award-winning columnist Brett Friedlander has covered the ACC and college basketball since the 1980s.
