Zac Gone

[NewApp]

I have no complaints, never had any complaints about Zac in any way whatsoever. Never.
Have said all along he is one of the top 5 or 6 QB's in our history. Perhaps even THE top considering what he has been through in these trying past few years.

[ncman071]

Zac was a wonderful QB for our program and he was just a winner. However I got to still rank A. Edwards as the best QB in app st history

[NewApp]

Zac was a wonderful QB for our program and he was just a winner. However I got to still rank A. Edwards as the best QB in app st history

Perhaps so. I make no specific evaluations. Just a simple "perhaps." We all have our favorites. Mine changes from year to year.

[Rekdiver]

AE clearly the most dynamic we’ve had. AE TL RC and ZT are my top 4 for me in no certain order after AE.

[NewApp]

AE clearly the most dynamic we’ve had. AE TL RC and ZT are my top 4 for me in no certain order after AE.

Where is Richie Williams, Rekdiver?

[BambooRdApp]

Difficult to rank QBs when the QBs played in different divisions, playoff division for AE and others and some QBs since we moved to Sunbelt. All good in their own way. Difficult to top two P5 wins and taking one to overtime and would have won if defense holds on last driv in Happy Valley. Also, Would have been nice to see AE, another awesome QB, play in Sunbelt. That kind of talent seems it would play no matter what division. We have had some good ones for sure

[NewApp]

....and no doubt will have many more, Tbatchelor

[Stonewall]

Don’t forget Paul Hamilton.

[AppState89]

Wish nothing but the best for this young man. I'll remember his games at Penn State, Chapel Hill, and Columbia the most. He endured coaching and coordinator changes and gave his all for App State. Well done Zac.

2019: Zac Thomas, meet your new head coach, OC and QB coach, Eli Drinkwitz. "Hi Coach, I've heard and read a lot of great things about you and your system. Also loved the videos footage I've reviewed...I'm ready, let's go!"

2020: Zac Thomas, meet your new OC and QB coach, Tony Petersen. "Hi Coach, I've heard and read a lot of things about you."

This is a tale of two very different snapshots in time. The spark between Zac and Coach Petersen was never there. I could see it in Zac's body language and his facial expressions. Zac was never completely sold on what he was being asked to do in 2020. App football was no longer fun to him. There was an obvious sadness there. That played a big role, in my opinion, in Zac's decision to take the off-ramp.

Nonetheless, he was one of our greatest of all time and a first ballot App State Hall of Fame member in his first year of eligibility--2025! No doubt in my mind! None!

You are 100% correct what you typed about 2019 and 2020. Your reading body language is also correct, 100% correct. You need to apply with the FBI. LOL... Drinkwitz was a QB coach for sure and he and Zac had a bond for sure. The play calling in 2019 (Drink) was focused more on the QB while this year more on the RBs.

[Seattleapp]

I have no complaints, never had any complaints about Zac in any way whatsoever. Never.
Have said all along he is one of the top 5 or 6 QB's in our history. Perhaps even THE top considering what he has been through in these trying past few years.

Are you kidding me? Over Edwards? And I had some problems with his regression over the past two years. But I digress. He gave his all for app and I applaud him but no way is he the best quarterback of all time

[Mjohn1988]

I have no complaints, never had any complaints about Zac in any way whatsoever. Never.
Have said all along he is one of the top 5 or 6 QB's in our history. Perhaps even THE top considering what he has been through in these trying past few years.

Are you kidding me? Over Edwards? And I had some problems with his regression over the past two years. But I digress. He gave his all for app and I applaud him but no way is he the best quarterback of all time

Zac’s record sure puts him in the running for best ever.

[NavyApp]

I have no complaints, never had any complaints about Zac in any way whatsoever. Never.
Have said all along he is one of the top 5 or 6 QB's in our history. Perhaps even THE top considering what he has been through in these trying past few years.

Are you kidding me? Over Edwards? And I had some problems with his regression over the past two years. But I digress. He gave his all for app and I applaud him but no way is he the best quarterback of all time

Zac’s record sure puts him in the running for best ever.

True he did win us a ton of games. But Armanti had 42, which is ridiculous. Yes I know he had the playoffs and got to play against "lesser" competition. The flip side of that is he had lesser talent around. Also the Michigan win pushed our program to another level in the national landscape, which should not be understated. Armanti changed the trajectory of App State Football. ZT was an all time great for us and definitely helped advance our program and we are so lucky we had him when we did. But Superman wears Armanti Pajamas!

[NewApp]

I have no complaints, never had any complaints about Zac in any way whatsoever. Never.
Have said all along he is one of the top 5 or 6 QB's in our history. Perhaps even THE top considering what he has been through in these trying past few years.

Are you kidding me? Over Edwards? And I had some problems with his regression over the past two years. But I digress. He gave his all for app and I applaud him but no way is he the best quarterback of all time

Said "perhaps" considering what 2020 gave us in other ways which affected him and the collection of receivers/line/RB's, etc and the team in general. Have to consider his body of work, not just this less than stellar season. It's hard to compare anyone to Armanti.

[Rick83]

I would put AE as not just the best QB we've ever had but the best overall player...the GOAT. Taylor and Zac would be tied for 2nd, with Richie coming in 4th. Difficult to judge over different time periods but these are the ones that have propelled our program forward and were so damn fun to watch. QBs putting their team in a place to win consistently.

[bigdaddyg]

I would put AE as not just the best QB we've ever had but the best overall player...the GOAT. Taylor and Zac would be tied for 2nd, with Richie coming in 4th. Difficult to judge over different time periods but these are the ones that have propelled our program forward and were so damn fun to watch. QBs putting their team in a place to win consistently.

QB ranking isn’t cut and dried. Like some have pointed out, different eras and different divisions/different levels of competition. Could AE have played in 2019? Would he have survived against bigger, faster guys every week? Nobody knows. He was a tough dude. For me personally I have AE as the GOAT regardless of position. His offensive numbers might stand for a long time. I really don’t believe P5 wins is a vital criteria for best QB. Wins is important but a QB doesn’t win by himself. AE had a few stinkers himself but overall he was pretty damn good. I wonder if there were guys on here wanting him benched when he had a bad game?

[Stonewall]

Thinking back, Dexter Coakley was probably the best football player I’ve seen in Boone. AE was the best QB hands down. We likely wouldn’t have lost a game in ‘19 or ‘20 had he been around.

[NewApp]

I would put AE as not just the best QB we've ever had but the best overall player...the GOAT. Taylor and Zac would be tied for 2nd, with Richie coming in 4th. Difficult to judge over different time periods but these are the ones that have propelled our program forward and were so damn fun to watch. QBs putting their team in a place to win consistently.

QB ranking isn’t cut and dried. Like some have pointed out, different eras and different divisions/different levels of competition. Could AE have played in 2019? Would he have survived against bigger, faster guys every week? Nobody knows. He was a tough dude. For me personally I have AE as the GOAT regardless of position. His offensive numbers might stand for a long time. I really don’t believe P5 wins is a vital criteria for best QB. Wins is important but a QB doesn’t win by himself. AE had a few stinkers himself but overall he was pretty damn good. I wonder if there were guys on here wanting him benched when he had a bad game?

Many on the Delphi board said Trey Elder should have started instead of Armanti when he replaced Elder.

[appvette]

I don't know if AE was a strong enough passer his first 2 seasons to be extremely successful in FBS. You can't just rely on athleticism as a small QB in FBS. However, he improved enough his last 2 years to be great in the SBC.

[Seattleapp]

I don't know if AE was a strong enough passer his first 2 seasons to be extremely successful in FBS. You can't just rely on athleticism as a small QB in FBS. However, he improved enough his last 2 years to be great in the SBC.

I disagree. Taylor Lamb had zero arm strength and was in there

[AppDub]

Thinking back, Dexter Coakley was probably the best football player I’ve seen in Boone. AE was the best QB hands down. We likely wouldn’t have lost a game in ‘19 or ‘20 had he been around.

Bad man on the field, but awesome dude in real life. Had a couple classes with him and he was super. When the GOAT discussion popped up, he and Armanti were the first players that came to my mind.