It is impossible to flip through Virginia Tech's and Georgia Tech's record books without noticing two names stand out quite regularly: Tyrod Taylor and Joshua Nesbitt. The two quarterbacks that will star in Thursday's game have solidly entrenched themselves in many different categories, and should put on a show tomorrow night.
Tyrod Taylor, Senior, QB, 6'1", 210, Hampton, Va.
Tyrod's career is simple to explain: he has the most wins for any starting quarterback in school history. That stat speaks more for his performance over four years than any other in the record book, but he has other ones to help do the talking too.
In 36 career games started, the Hokies are 29-7. In addition to being the most wins for any quarterback in school history, the .806 winning percentage is the highest of any QB under Frank Beamer. Second place isn't even close, either, standing at .684.
Taylor is one of only two active quarterbacks in the 5,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing club (the other is Nevada's Colin Kapernick).
The senior quarterback holds some high spots in Virginia Tech's record books as well: rushing yards by a QB: 2064 (1st), rushing touchdowns by a QB: 21 (t-1st), 100-yard rushing games by a QB: 6 (t-1st) and total offense: 7940 (2nd).
He is putting up his best numbers in his senior season. His completion percentage (63.9%) is 6 points higher than the previous best, and he has already thrown for more touchdowns (15) than in any other total year. On the ground, he has put up 527 yards with 85 carries, good for 6.2 yards per carry, another career best.
Joshua Nesbitt, Senior, QB, 6'1", 217, Greensboro, Ga.
Joshua Nesbitt has been doing a bit of record book rewriting of his own, and not even in just Georgia Tech's. He currently sits second for most career rushing yards by a quarterback in the conference, and will take over first place if he can get to 42 yards against the Hokies. He already has the most career rushing touchdowns by a QB in ACC history with 33.
Georgia Tech records with Nesbitt at the top include career rushing yards by a QB (1st) , career rushing touchdowns by a QB(1st), career rushing touchdowns overall (3rd), career touchdowns scored (4th), career touchdowns responsible for (4th), career total offense (5th), career pass efficiency (7th), career rushing (7th), and career passing yards (8th).
If Nesbitt can get 280 more rushing yards this season, he will join a fairly elite group as well, and become the eighth player in NCAA history to pass for and rush for 3,000 yards.
Those are two very impressive resumes by the quarterbacks facing off tomorrow night.