Watson’s head of the class of ACC quarterbacks

Deshaun Watson is the nation’s best quarterback and pretty easily paces the ACC. Coming off a record-shattering sophomore campaign, Watson threw for nearly 1,000 more yards than his nearest peer and ranked fifth in the ACC in rushing yards.

Heading into the 2016 season, there’s turnover at QB for two of Clemson’s eight scheduled opponents this season (N.C. State and Boston College), while veterans are battling to hold on to their jobs at another pair (Florida State and Wake Forest).

The following is a rating of the quarterbacks in the ACC. The rankings are based on projected production/field impact as a unit, not necessarily next-level stock for individual players.

1) Clemson – Deshaun Watson

Watson has areas to improve, including: fewer picks (one every 38 throws in 2015; one every 69 in 2014), even better run efficiency (17 percent of runs for 10-plus yards; 4.8 for 20-plus runs) and improved vocal leadership. A ‘better’ Watson is a scary proposition, but he has the skill position weapons around him to go back-to-back on 4,000 passing/1,000 rushing seasons and head back to NYC for the Heisman ceremony.

2) Miami – Brad Kaaya

Kaaya threw for more than 6,000 yards as an underclassman, with 42 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions. The 6-foot-4 L.A. native had a strong sophomore campaign interrupted by Clemson’s D-line last year – which knocked him out for the better part of two games. Kaaya recovered to average 293 passing yards and could flourish under new coach Mark Richt.

3) UNC – Mitch Trubisky

The reputation of the Tar Heels’ up-tempo offense precedes the junior, but the former four-star prospect out of Ohio completed 85 percent of his throws with six touchdowns and no interceptions last season.

4) Louisville – Lamar Jackson

Jackson leads an offense returning 10 starters, but is working under a new offensive coordinator. In the spring game, the dual-threat, threw for eight touchdowns and 519 yards on 24-for-29 passing. The Cards went to Jackson after a close loss to Clemson last September and won six of eight games.

5) FSU – Sean Maguire, Deondre Francois, Malik Henry

Yeah, that Sean Maguire (1 TD/3 INTs/6.9 yards per pass in two starts against Clemson), is the No. 1 QB going into fall camp, but a couple of talented freshmen are on his heels. The four-star prospect Francois (6-1, 214) was the offensive scout team MVP as a redshirt last year. Midyear enrollee Malik Henry (6-2, 185) was rated as the No. 2 dual-threat QB.

6) Georgia Tech – Justin Thomas

In his first year, Thomas averaged 9.2 yards per pass with 18 touchdowns to six picks, and rushed for 1,086 yards with an additional eight scores. In his second year, Thomas averaged 7.5 yards per pass with 13 touchdowns to six picks, and rushed for 488 yards with an additional six scores.

7) Pittsburgh – Nate Peterman

The Tennessee transfer took hold of the job last year with efficiency, and was the only ACC QB to hit the 20-TD mark (20), total 2,500 or more yards (2,519), complete 61 percent of passes (61.5), throw less than 10 interceptions (8) and average more than seven yards per pass (7.3).

8) Wake Forest – John Wolford

It’s been a rough couple seasons for Wolford. Now a junior, Wolford started 2015 strong with 323 passing yards and three touchdowns to no picks, but finished with six passing scores to 11 interceptions over the final 11 games.

9) Virginia – Matt Johns

Johns had a quietly strong campaign in a season of struggles for the Virginia offense, completing 61.3 percent of his throws for a third-best single-season mark in school history (2,810). Johns looks to flourish in the scheme Bronco Mendenhallbrings from BYU.

10) Syracuse – Eric Dungey

Dungey could flourish in Dino Babers’ Baylor-esque scheme after making honorable-mention All-America with 1,298 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions despite missing four games. He also rushed for 351 yards and five TDs.

11) Virginia Tech – Dwayne Lawson, Jerod Evans, Brendan Motley

Justin Fuente’s last quarterback was picked in the first round of the NFL Draft (Paxton Lynch). His next QB? To be determined. There was a five-way competition in spring and that could go any number of ways.

12) Boston College – Patrick Towles

Towles, a 6-5 graduate transfer from Kentucky, is the favorite in a new pro-style scheme for the Eagles under Scot Loeffler. Towles was Mr. Kentucky and a Parade All-America in high school.

13) Duke – Parker Boehme, Thomas Sirk

The Pinstripe Bowl co-MVP, Sirk tore an Achilles in February conditioning, sending the Blue Devils to a second option in redshirt junior Parker Boehme, at least to start the season. As a backup, Boehme had a 55.1 completion rate, 579 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.

14) NC State – Jalan McClendon, Jakobi Meyers

McClendon’s a former four-star prospect, standing 6-5 and 212 pounds, but faces a reset in a new offense and competition from dual-threat freshman Jakobi Meyers.

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 7:21 PM.