It’s that time of year, ACC fans -- the time to argue, debate and discuss who the best 25 players in the ACC will be in 2013. This has become an annual tradition here at ESPN.com, and it hasn’t gotten any easier. Colleague Andrea Adelson and I have been tweaking this list for a week now, and made a few changes after speaking to coaches and players recently at the ACC Football Kickoff. Remember: This list is NOT an NFL draft projection. It was compiled using two main factors: Past performance and future potential.
Kicking off the list is ...
No. 25: Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech
Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Making the case for Thomas: Consider this a vote of confidence for the Hokies’ embattled quarterback. Those within the program are convinced Thomas is better than he was a year ago, evidenced by the fact he won the George Preas Award as the most valuable offensive player of spring practice. First-year offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler has tweaked Thomas’ mechanics to help make him a more accurate passer. Thomas has reconstructed his drops, his weight transfer, and the timing between his upper body and lower half, so that while he’s throwing to the target, his lower body isn’t spinning out to the left. And at 6-foot-6, 257 pounds, Thomas is tough for opposing defenders to bring down. Let’s not forget that Thomas led his team in rushing last year and broke his own school record for total offense with 3,500 yards. Thomas has something to prove this fall after throwing 16 interceptions last year, but the players around him also have to pull their own weight. If Thomas isn’t forced into trying to do everything himself, which was a problem last year, his improvement should be reflected in the win column.
