Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, 65, perfectly summed up how important a quarterback like Logan Thomas is to a program: “I'm going to coach as long as my health is good and I've got a good quarterback.” 

There are many ways to measure the ACC’s struggles since Florida State’s era of dominance in the 90s, but none quite covers it like the recent leaguewide absence of elite quarterback play.

For instance, since Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke won the Heisman Trophy in 2000, there have been 60 quarterbacks who have finished in the top 10 in Heisman voting, but just two played in the ACC -- NC State’s Philip Rivers in 2004 and Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan in 2007.

That is the lowest among all BCS conferences. By comparison, The Pac-12 has had 12 quarterbacks finish in the top 10 in Heisman voting, followed by the Big 12 (11), SEC (8), Big Ten (six), and Big East (four).

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas and Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel can be readily found in the first round of plenty of 2013 NFL mock drafts, and NC State’s Mike Glennon could play his way into the first round, too.

How big of a deal would three first round quarterbacks in one draft be? Consider this: Only three ACC quarterbacks have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 1979. To put it another way, the Big 12 had as many quarterbacks taken in the first round (three) of the 2012 NFL Draft as the ACC has had in the last 33 first rounds combined.

Ten ACC teams return their starting quarterbacks from a year ago, making the position as deep as it has ever been in the league.

Clemson’s Tajh Boyd was first-team All-ACC in 2011 in his first year with offensive coordinator Chad Morris. With a year under his belt, he will have better knowledge of the system and can get the ball in the hands of playmakers like Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Ellington.

Thomas, at 6-6 and 262 pounds, finished strong last year and continues to develop after not seriously taking up the position until he arrived in Blacksburg.

Manuel battled through injuries in 2011, but he completed 65.3% of his passes in 11 starts. Coach Jimbo Fisher believes Manuel will take a step forward this year with his anticipation and timing as trust grows with his wide receivers.

While those three quarterbacks get the majority of the headlines, NC State’s Glennon threw 31 touchdown passes last year while North Carolina’s Bryn Renner led the league in passing efficiency (159.4). Georgia Tech’s Tevin Washington ran for 986 yards and proved more than capable filling Josh Nesbitt’s shoes in Paul Johnson’s option attack last year.

For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.