Quarterback Preview: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech
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| Logan Thomas |
MICHIGAN
Starter: Junior Denard Robinson (6’0″, 195 lbs.) is 133/237 (56.1%) passing for 2,056 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He has also rushed 208 times for 1,137 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and 16 touchdowns.
Backups: Sophomore Devin Gardner has played in 9 games, sometimes in a package with Robinson on the field. Gardner is 11/23 (47.8%) passing for 176 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He also rushed 25 times for 53 yards and 1 touchdown. The next guy on the depth chart is true freshman Russell Bellomy, who has yet to play this season but has traveled to road games.
VIRGINIA TECH
Starter: Redshirt sophomore Logan Thomas (6’6″, 254 lbs.) has started all 13 games this season, going 215/363 (59.2%) for 2,799 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He has also rushed 137 times for 416 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns.
Backups: Redshirt freshman Mark Leal has played a backup role in 3 games this year. He is 9/13 (69.2%) for 153 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Redshirt junior Ju-Ju Clayton is the third quarterback but has yet to play this season.
THE TAKEAWAY
Thomas is capable of excellent play; against Miami he went 23/25 (92%) for 310 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, plus 2 more rushing scores. He played some great football throughout the year. But he’s coming off a game against Clemson in which he completed 50% of his passes, threw 2 interceptions, and rushed 12 times for only 2 yards. Meanwhile, Robinson is one of the most dynamic players in the country, capable of taking over a game at any given time. While he has been prone to interceptions and erratic passing, he’s coming off a three-game winning streak in which he completed 60% or more of his passes, scored 11 total touchdowns (5 passing with only 2 interceptions), and played arguably the best game of his career against Ohio State (14/17 for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus 170 yards on the ground and 2 more touchdowns). Thomas is good, but Robinson has the ability to be unstoppable.
Advantage: Michigan