© Tim Peeler, 2017
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When former NC State quarterback Jacoby Brissett was traded
by the New England Patriots to the Indianapolis Colts last week, it opened up the
possibility that there could be four former Wolfpack quarterbacks starting
under center for their NFL teams when the 2017 season opens this weekend.
Philip Rivers begins his 14th season with the San
Diego Chargers, Russell Wilson his sixth season with the Seattle Seahawks and
Mike Glennon is in his first season with the Chicago Bears after four seasons
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brissett made two starts for the Super Bowl
champion Patriots last season during starter Tom Brady’s NFL suspension and was
acquired to help the Colts while regular starter Andrew Luck recovers from a
preseason injury.
No other school has more than two former quarterbacks
starting for NFL teams.
Four schools have two: Wisconsin, with Seattle’s Wilson (who
counts for both the Badgers and the Wolfpack) and Chicago’s Scott Tolzien (who
might get bumped this week or next by new acquisition Brissett); California
with Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and the Rams’ Jared Goff; Michigan State with Washington’s
Kirk Cousins and San Francisco’s Brian Hoyer; and ACC-partner Pittsburgh, with
Baltimore’s Joe Flacco (who began his college career with the Panthers before
transferring to Delaware) and Houston’s Tom Savage.
Southern Cal has four former quarterbacks on NFL rosters:
Carson Palmer, Mark Sanchez, Cody Kessler and Matt Cassel. Only Carson,
however, is a projected starter heading into the season.
Michigan State also has four: starter Kirk Cousins and
reserves Connor Cook, Brian Hoyer and Drew Stanton.
Oregon State has three, starter Matt Moore and reserves
Derek Anderson and Sean Mannion, as does Michigan with starter Tom Brady and
reserves Jake Rudock and Chad Henne.
Tennessee has three, but neither Tyler Bray, Joshua Dobbs
nor Matt Simms is a starter.
NC State has now moved into elite territory as one of a
dozen college programs to contribute 500 or more regular-season NFL starts at
quarterback, thanks to six former Wolfpack signal callers: Roman Gabriel (157
starts), Erik Kramer (67), Rivers (176), Wilson (80),
Glennon (18) and Brissett (2).
(Former Wolfpack quarterback Johnny Evans played in 48 games
for the Cleveland Browns from 1978-80, but primarily as a punter. He had 214
career punts for an average of 39.5 yards. He attempted three NFL passes with
two completions for a total of 14 yards. He also had five career rushes for a
total of six yards. But he never started at quarterback.)
The Wolfpack is third among current and former ACC schools
in contributing NFL starts at quarterback, behind Miami (581) and Boston
College (511). The Pack could move into second place pretty quickly if it adds
four starts per week early in the NFL season.
Boston College has alum Matt Ryan starting for the Atlanta
Falcons; Miami has not had an alum start in the NFL since Ken Dorsey started
three games for the Cleveland Browns in 2008.
North Carolina and Georgia Tech have the fewest NFL
quarterback starts among ACC schools. UNC alum T.J. Yates made five starts in
2011 and two starts in 2015 for the Houston Texans, but is currently on the
Buffalo Bills injured reserve list.
Georgia Tech alum Mike Kelley, a veteran of the United State
Football League’s Tampa Bay Bandits and Memphis Bandits, made one start for the
NFL’s San Diego Chargers as a replacement player during the 1987 players’
strike.
With four NC State alumni as potential starters for the
opening of the 2017 season, here’s a look at the number of career NFL starts by
quarterbacks from ACC schools and a list of the 12 NCAA programs who have
contributed 500 regular-season quarterback starts in the NFL, which NC State
joined at the end of last season.
Schools with 500 NFL
QB starts
Purdue 1,082
Notre Dame 931
Southern Cal 843
Stanford 811
Washington 679
Oregon 627
Alabama 621
Michigan 607
UCLA 583
Miami 581
California 576
Boston College 511
NC State 500
Notre Dame 931
Southern Cal 843
Stanford 811
Washington 679
Oregon 627
Alabama 621
Michigan 607
UCLA 583
Miami 581
California 576
Boston College 511
NC State 500
NFL QB starts by ACC
schools
Miami 581
Boston College 511
NC State 500
Maryland^ 442
Pittsburgh 415
Florida State 319
Virginia 308
Louisville 246
Duke 242
Wake Forest 185
Syracuse 172
Virginia Tech 169
Clemson 52
South Carolina^ 31
North Carolina 7
Georgia Tech 1
Boston College 511
NC State 500
Maryland^ 442
Pittsburgh 415
Florida State 319
Virginia 308
Louisville 246
Duke 242
Wake Forest 185
Syracuse 172
Virginia Tech 169
Clemson 52
South Carolina^ 31
North Carolina 7
Georgia Tech 1
^ Former ACC members
Starts by QBs from
ACC schools
Dan Marino, Pittsburgh% 240
Vinnie Testaverde, Miami% 214
Johnny Unitas, Louisville% 185
Philip Rivers, NC State 176
Boomer Esiason, Maryland 173
Donovan McNabb, Syracuse% 161
Jim Kelley, Miami% 160
Matt Hasselbeck, Boston College% 160
Norm Snead, Wake Forest 159
Roman Gabriel, NC State 157
Vinnie Testaverde, Miami% 214
Johnny Unitas, Louisville% 185
Philip Rivers, NC State 176
Boomer Esiason, Maryland 173
Donovan McNabb, Syracuse% 161
Jim Kelley, Miami% 160
Matt Hasselbeck, Boston College% 160
Norm Snead, Wake Forest 159
Roman Gabriel, NC State 157
%-played prior to school joining ACC
NFL QB starts by
school
Miami (Florida) 581
Vinny Testaverde 214
Jim Kelly 160
Bernie Kosar 108
Steve Walsh 38
Craig Erickson 36
Ken Dorsey 13
George Mira 8
Larry Lawrence 2
Scott Covington 1
Brock Berlin 1
Gino Torretta 0
Jack Del Bello 0
Jim Kelly 160
Bernie Kosar 108
Steve Walsh 38
Craig Erickson 36
Ken Dorsey 13
George Mira 8
Larry Lawrence 2
Scott Covington 1
Brock Berlin 1
Gino Torretta 0
Jack Del Bello 0
Boston College 511
Matt Hasselbeck 160
Matt Ryan+* 142
Doug Flutie 66
Jack Concannon 45
Butch Songin 20
Charlie O’Rourke 19
John McCormick 15
Don Panciera 13
Glenn Foley 9
Gary Marangi 7
Mike Kruczek 7
Tim Hasselbeck 5
Shawn Halloran 2
Brian St. Pierre 1
Mark Hartsell 0
Don Allard 0
Joe DeVito 0
Matt Ryan+* 142
Doug Flutie 66
Jack Concannon 45
Butch Songin 20
Charlie O’Rourke 19
John McCormick 15
Don Panciera 13
Glenn Foley 9
Gary Marangi 7
Mike Kruczek 7
Tim Hasselbeck 5
Shawn Halloran 2
Brian St. Pierre 1
Mark Hartsell 0
Don Allard 0
Joe DeVito 0
NC State 500
Philip Rivers+* 176
Roman Gabriel 157
Russell Wilson+* 80
Erik Kramer 67
Mike Glennon+* 18
Jacoby Brissett* 2
Roman Gabriel 157
Russell Wilson+* 80
Erik Kramer 67
Mike Glennon+* 18
Jacoby Brissett* 2
Maryland 442
Boomer Esiason 173
Neil O’Donnell 100
Bob Avelini 50
Shaun Hill 35
Dick Shiner 29
Frank Reich 20
Stan Gelbaugh 12
Jack Scarbath 11
Scott Zolak 7
Alan Pastrana 3
Scott Milanovich 0
Mark Manges 0
King Corcoran 0
Tommy Mont 2
Neil O’Donnell 100
Bob Avelini 50
Shaun Hill 35
Dick Shiner 29
Frank Reich 20
Stan Gelbaugh 12
Jack Scarbath 11
Scott Zolak 7
Alan Pastrana 3
Scott Milanovich 0
Mark Manges 0
King Corcoran 0
Tommy Mont 2
Pittsburgh 415
Dan Marino 240
Joe Flacco+* 138
Matt Cavanaugh 19
Alex Van Pelt 11
Tyler Palko 4
Tom Savage+* 2
Matt Lytle 1
Paul Rickards 0
Pete Gonzalez 0
Rick Trocano 0
Joe Flacco+* 138
Matt Cavanaugh 19
Alex Van Pelt 11
Tyler Palko 4
Tom Savage+* 2
Matt Lytle 1
Paul Rickards 0
Pete Gonzalez 0
Rick Trocano 0
Florida State 319
Brad Johnson 125
Christian Ponder 36
Steve Tensi 34
Jameis Winston+* 32
Gary Huff 28
Danny Kanell 24
Chris Weinke 20
E.J. Manuel* 17
Peter Tom Willis 3
Casey Weldon 0
Kim Hammond 0
Bill Cappleman 0
Christian Ponder 36
Steve Tensi 34
Jameis Winston+* 32
Gary Huff 28
Danny Kanell 24
Chris Weinke 20
E.J. Manuel* 17
Peter Tom Willis 3
Casey Weldon 0
Kim Hammond 0
Bill Cappleman 0
Virginia 308
Matt Schaub 92
Aaron Brooks* 90
Don Majkowski 57
Gary Cuozzo 40
Bob Davis 14
Bill Troup 11
Scott Secules 4
Shawn Moore 0
Matt Blundin 0
Aaron Brooks* 90
Don Majkowski 57
Gary Cuozzo 40
Bob Davis 14
Bill Troup 11
Scott Secules 4
Shawn Moore 0
Matt Blundin 0
Louisville 246
Johnny Unitas 185
Teddy Bridgewater 28
Browning Nagle 14
Chris Redman 12
Ed Rubbert 3
Brian Brohm 2
Dave Ragone 2
Dean May 0
Jeff Brohm 0
Matt Simms 0
Benny Russell 0
Teddy Bridgewater 28
Browning Nagle 14
Chris Redman 12
Ed Rubbert 3
Brian Brohm 2
Dave Ragone 2
Dean May 0
Jeff Brohm 0
Matt Simms 0
Benny Russell 0
Duke 242
Sonny Jurgensen 147
Dave Brown 60
Al Woodall 19
Anthony Dilweg 7
Thaddeus Lewis 6
Leo Hart 1
Scotty Glacken 1
Bob Brodhead 1
Sean Renfree 0
Ben Bennett 0
Dave Brown 60
Al Woodall 19
Anthony Dilweg 7
Thaddeus Lewis 6
Leo Hart 1
Scotty Glacken 1
Bob Brodhead 1
Sean Renfree 0
Ben Bennett 0
Wake Forest 185
Norm Snead 159
Karl Sweetan 19
Ron Smith 7
Nick Sacrinty 0
Mike Elkins 0
Karl Sweetan 19
Ron Smith 7
Nick Sacrinty 0
Mike Elkins 0
Syracuse 172
Donovan McNabb 161
Jim Del Gaizo 6
Todd Philcox 5
Ryan Nassib 0
Jim Del Gaizo 6
Todd Philcox 5
Ryan Nassib 0
Virginia Tech 169
Michael Vick 115
Tyrod Taylor+* 29
Don Strock 22
Will Furrer 2
Jim Druckenmiller 1
Bob Schweickert 0
Logan Thomas 0
Tyrod Taylor+* 29
Don Strock 22
Will Furrer 2
Jim Druckenmiller 1
Bob Schweickert 0
Logan Thomas 0
Clemson 52
Steve Fuller 42
Charlie Whitehurst 9
Charley Sarratt 1
Harvey White 0
DeShaun Watson* 0
Charlie Whitehurst 9
Charley Sarratt 1
Harvey White 0
DeShaun Watson* 0
South Carolina 31
Anthony Wright 19
Bill Troup 11
Connor Shaw* 1
Mike Hold 0
Bill Troup 11
Connor Shaw* 1
Mike Hold 0
North Carolina 7
T.J. Yates* 7
Scott Stankavage 0
Jim Camp 0
Mitch Trubisky* 0
Scott Stankavage 0
Jim Camp 0
Mitch Trubisky* 0
Georgia Tech 1
Mike Kelley 1
Jim Bob Taylor 0
Rick Strom 0
Joe Hamilton 0
Andy Hall 0
Jim Bob Taylor 0
Rick Strom 0
Joe Hamilton 0
Andy Hall 0
+ current NFL starter; * current NFL player.
Starts as recorded by www.Pro-Football-Reference.com
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