Introducing the Signal Callers of the Preseason All-ACC Team

Jul 31, 20242 min read

All ACC Offense — © Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

With the college football season approaching quickly, excitement is reaching a fever pitch. As rosters begin to settle, and practices continue at schools across the country, which players are best positioned to stand out in the new-look Atlantic Coast Conference and make names for themselves? Let's roll out the quarterbacks on our preseason All-ACC team.

Recently, at the ACC Kickoff, Commissioner Jim Phillips said the ACC is the conference of quarterbacks. On the offensive side of the ball, the spotlight typically shines most brightly on the quarterback position. The ACC features quality quarterbacks across the board, with dual-threat QBs and pocket passers.

First Team All-ACC QB Cam Ward, Miami

Ward began his collegiate career at Incarnate Word, then transferred to Washington State before ending up in Miami. He can sling the ball around the field, completing over 60 percent of his passes. After a career season in 2022 with Incarnate Word where he threw for 4,600 yards and 47 touchdowns, he eclipsed 3,000 yards in both seasons he played on the Palouse with the Wazzou Cougars. He's a mobile quarterback with a strong arm and can make a variety of throws. His proficiency in throwing the ball will help the Hurricanes compete for the ACC title that has proven elusive to the university since it joined the conference in the 2004 season.

Cam Ward | Miami | All-ACC Team — © Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Second Team: DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State

No stranger to the ACC, Uiagalelei returns to a conference where he played for the Clemson Tigers from 2020 through 2022. After spending a season at Oregon State, he returns to lead his former rival, the Seminoles. While his time at Clemson ended on a down note after coming in as a highly-heralded five-star recruit, he looks to silence critics upon his return. In Corvallis, Ore., he threw for over 2,600 yards with 21 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Uiagalelei says he has embraced the culture and system installed at FSU by coach Mike Norvell and his staff. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, he marks a significant change from the Jordan Travis era. And, with 40 collegiate starts under his belt, Uiagalelei brings ample experience to the Seminoles' offense.

DJ | All-ACC Team — © Abigail Dollins/Statesman Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK

Honorable Mention: Thomas Castellanos, Boston College

After transferring to Boston College from UCF, Castellanos earned the starting role and impressed on a team that struggled in 2023. A dual-threat quarterback with a solid arm, he started 12 games for the Eagles last year, throwing for over 2,200 yards and running for over 1,100 yards. With those numbers, he became the first player in BC history to pass for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. With coach Bill O'Brien and his staff in place, Castellanos should continue his upward trajectory.

Another ACC gunslinger to watch closely in 2024 is league newcomer SMU's Preston Stone. In leading the Mustangs to the championship of the American Athletic Conference in 2023, Stone threw for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns, with only 6 interceptions. He also had 4 rushing touchdowns.