Tech’s Joshua Nesbitt: The most valuable collegiate player?
It takes at least four Hokies to handle Joshua Nesbitt. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Ankle surgery having precluded his participation in spring practice, Joshua Nesbitt had the chance to study Georgia Tech from the sideline. And what he saw, he said, was a team just as talented as last season’s ACC champs. Which is, not to put too fine a point on it, a big ol’ fib.
Because the Jackets with Nesbitt on the sideline aren’t one-tenth as impressive as Tech is when he’s on the field. He’s not quite the best player in college football, but no one means more to a program than this quarterback does to his.
Paul Johnson’s stylized option-based spread starts with Nesbitt, and often it ends there. He has to make every read, every pitch, every throw. He also has to take 30 hits a game, and therein lies the issue. With backup Jaybo Shaw having transferred to Georgia Southern, Tech can’t afford to lose Nesbitt for a single snap. But even a man as conspicuously robust as this — he appears bigger than his listed 217 pounds — is going to feel some pain.
The good news: Nesbitt said last week he feels better than he has “since high school.” The bad: Every Tech opponent won’t be so concerned with defending the option this season as with simply smacking Nesbitt.
But here’s the thing: Nesbitt is capable of smacking back. He has a linebacker’s approach to playing quarterback. If you come hard at him, he’ll come harder at you. Apologies in advance for again using the I-word — “indomitable” — but with Nesbitt no other adjective is half as applicable.
Said Nesbitt, speaking of Tech: “We understand what it means to fight until the clock says zero.”
Much of this comes from Pugnacious Paul, the head coach. Nearly as much emanates from the quarterback he inherited on arrival, a young man after PJ’s fighting heart.
And these Jackets, picked to finish third in the ACC Coastal Division, figure to need all the orneriness they can muster. They lost four gifted juniors to the NFL, and their road schedule — trips to Kansas, North Carolina, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia — is a fright. Or it would be, were Nesbitt the sort to get nettled.
“People are looking for us not to be the same team,” Nesbitt said. “We know we’ve got a bull’s eye on us. … We need to prove everybody wrong.”
Someone asked if Johnson imparts that very message to his players. “Only every time we talk,” Nesbitt said, and then he laughed.
Another source of some amusement: The two letters at the shank of his first name. He was born Joshua Leonard Nesbitt, but for 21 years he answered to Josh. He and his mother decided to ask Tech to list his name as Joshua for his senior season: “More businesslike,” he said.
Which isn’t to say everyone has gotten the memo. Heck, sometimes his mom even slips and forgets the “u” and the “a.” “It doesn’t faze me,” said Nesbitt, who isn’t easily fazed.
And what does Tech’s coach call his quarterback? “He can call me whatever he likes.”
We know Johnson has the utmost faith in his offense — he should; he designed the thing — but even a man as proud as PJ will acknowledge that an option cannot run itself. Somebody has to take the ball from center and send it the right way and absorb those hits, and there’s nobody on Tech’s campus who can do it the way Nesbitt does.
Still, the cult of Joshua hasn’t yet found national traction. We saw it again this week when the assembled ACC media voted him sixth in its preseason player-of-the-year balloting. Yeah, that’s part of being an option quarterback in 21st century football, but still … sixth!
Maybe his low standing had something to do with Nesbitt skipping the ACC’s media days in Greensboro. Both Tech and conference officials implored him to come, but he was adamant. He had to attend a family reunion in Miami. (And no, it wasn’t an agent-funded soiree.)
And there’s just another reason to like Joshua Nesbitt. In an age where hype knows no restraints — hello, LeBron James — the most valuable Jacket had better things to do than talk about himself. Talk about a throwback.
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555 comments Add your comment
failure.....
July 28th, 2010
4:30 pm
….concept I’m sure jaydawg is more than familiar with. I suspect he has left this article since he was getting tired of getting his ass kicked. Run away and try to think of more clever nonsense for a later article. I’d call you a loser, but you would probably fail at that too. Go sniff a hydrant and just count the days till we destroy those silly hedges in our victory celebration.
Delbert D.
July 28th, 2010
4:30 pm
@George Stein
“it’s not about completion percentage. It’s about yards per attempt and passing efficiency.”
Right on. Joshua Nesbitt’s Passing Efficiency was 148.7, and 10.32 yds/attemp.
jacketman
July 28th, 2010
4:33 pm
kevin
July 28th, 2010
2:40 pm
Ed,
In 2009 UGA out-rushed GT 339 to 205. Who are you calling an idiot?
Hey Kevin! In 2008, the “high school offense” laid up 440 yards rushing on your “so-called” pre-season #1 little team. Hell, Roddy Jones had 230!
papadawg
July 28th, 2010
4:33 pm
Old MB is showing his true black & yellow GT colors in his viens thinking Nesbit is the best QB
Hey Dogtards
July 28th, 2010
4:35 pm
uga (or any other team for the matter) would be very lucky to have a player who embodies the toughness and leadership of Joshua. He is one B.A.M.F.
papadawg
July 28th, 2010
4:35 pm
Gator fans at least the red panties were in his lap and not wearing them like your cry baby Tebow
supersize that order, mutt
July 28th, 2010
4:37 pm
papamutt, first Tech’s colors are white and gold, not black and gold, and secondly, Bradley didn’t say Nesbitt was the best QB; he said he’s the MVP. BIG difference.
Ed
July 28th, 2010
4:37 pm
Man are you dense kevin. You look at one game.
I look at the entire season. And the entire season, GT’s offense was better than yours. Hence we played in a BCS bowl and you in the crap bowl. Moron.
supersize that order, mutt
July 28th, 2010
4:39 pm
papamutt, how classy of you to trash a QB who had UGAG’s number everytime he played them in good health. I guess since you don’t count games that you find something irregular in, then we shouldn’t count the one time UGAG has beat UF lately, because Tebow was not at 100% and showed it. That’s the only reason the mutts were able to win that one.
jaydawg is a.....
July 28th, 2010
4:39 pm
….cowardly loser who slings his crap in here, gets his ass handed to him about his faulty stats and then gets self satisfied that he has pissed people off and leaves thinking himself superior. Cowardly loser who probably won’t dare to come back in this article because he’s been shamed into realizing exactly what sort of human being he really is. Go cry in the corner and speak only when you are spoken too.
Delbert D.
July 28th, 2010
4:41 pm
I have South Carolina’s and Florida’s stats on file, and Stephen Garcia’s Passing Efficiency was 119.3, and yds/attempt were 6.63. Tebow was 164.17, 9.22 yds/attempt.
Scott W.
July 28th, 2010
4:42 pm
GT, message board champions.
cobbjacket
July 28th, 2010
4:43 pm
Very nice papamutt. A young man who exhibits qualities the likes of which no player to ever where a UGA uniform has and you have to trash him for being human and having emotions. How do you reconcile questioning his manhood and then having to live with the fact that he owned your sorry asses? Must be tough living such a delusional life.
jacket backer
July 28th, 2010
4:47 pm
I find it amazing that after all the shame that the UGA program has brought to this state (player arrests, AD arrests, sketchy academic standards etc) someone like papamutt would dare come in here and slam Tim Tebow. Mark my words, Tebow will see success in the NFL unlike any mutt has ever or ever will and he will do it with class and dignity.
Yellow Fuzz (in red panties)
July 28th, 2010
4:48 pm
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((45-42)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) says it all.
Hahahahahahahahaha.
Can’t wait to return to the greatest septic tank stadium in the south this November. I will be returning some of the hedges I “borrowed” after that 26-0, 3rd quarter beatdown!
hahahahaha!
Delbert D.
July 28th, 2010
4:48 pm
Bruce – I think Mark Bradley graduated from Bethany College. Is that right, Mark?
Clarke County's new Sherriff: Joshua Nesbitt
July 28th, 2010
4:48 pm
Give ‘em hell Tech!
JCH
July 28th, 2010
4:51 pm
ohh i’m sorry, Including Texas was a connection to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, and WHO was it Playing for that NATIONAL Championship,,,, Tech,??? NO, Va.Tech ??? NO, Fla St.??? NO,
Thats Right it was THE CRIMSON TIDE of ALABAMA, and WHo was it WON that NAtl Championship???? oh, Yes, CRIMSON TIDE of ALABAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get a life Bradley… Visit Tuscaloosa and learn what makes up a REAL Football Team.
POAD
July 28th, 2010
4:51 pm
Jeff Schultz is a Kentucky Grad I believe.
Delbert D.
July 28th, 2010
4:53 pm
Alright, since there seems to be a “passing” contest going on here, I found my file with Georgia’s 2009 stats. Joe Cox’s Passing Efficiency was 136.33, and 7.81 yds/attempt.
Scott W.
July 28th, 2010
4:54 pm
Intentionally hurt… you’re delusional…
POAD
July 28th, 2010
4:55 pm
JCH how many players will Satan kick off the team this year? I think he has about 15 more than allowed. Bama always over-recruits or signs and the poor kids don’t make the team. That is just wrong.
Mark Bradley.....
July 28th, 2010
4:55 pm
…..may be a Bethany grad, but jaydawg is a cowardly loser.
papadawg
July 28th, 2010
4:55 pm
Who cares, Black & Gold, White & Gold just like your mascot you nerds don’t know which one to use. I like the yellow myself
Scott W.
July 28th, 2010
4:56 pm
Schultz is Gator, POAD.
Jeff Schultz.....
July 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
….may be a Kentucky grad, but jaydawg is still a cowardly loser. And always will be. And like that Kentucky degree, they can never take away being a cowardly loser from jaydawg. Those roots run deep.
Yellow Fuzz
July 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2010-05-26/college-football-on-clock-sns-preseason-top-100
The preseason Top 25
read it and weep dog nation-hahahahahaha
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Boise State
4. Miami
5. Florida
6. TCU
7. Nebraska
8. Wisconsin
9. Texas
10. Oklahoma
11. Oregon
12. Virginia Tech
13. Iowa
14. Florida State
15. Oregon State
16. USC
17. Auburn
18. Georgia Tech
19. Pittsburgh
20. LSU
21. Arkansas
22. Utah
23. North Carolina
24. West Virginia
25. Washington
POAD
July 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
Delbert you for got to add the Ints. They were some great pass with some good YAC too. Cox could be up to 156.33 and 9.81. HAHAHAH
supersize that order, mutt
July 28th, 2010
4:58 pm
CPJ Disciple, thanks for the info on the 1952 Mich State team. I still don’t see how a team that only plays 9 regular season game and no bowl game can even be considered for a national championship. But in those days, I guess the media were enamored with the Big Ten; they still are to some extent, I guess, but not as much as back then.
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
July 28th, 2010
4:59 pm
papadawg
July 28th, 2010
4:35 pm
Gator fans at least the red panties were in his lap and not wearing them like your cry baby Tebow
Yeah….guess he was upset about having ONLY 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS. LMAO!!! Who was it that drafted Joe Cox?
cobbjacket
July 28th, 2010
4:59 pm
How about it papamutt, any thoughts on letting a “crybaby” like Tebow school your sorry mutt asses? Or will you just post another comment about Tech being a bunch of nerds etc. Answer the question.
Yellow Fuzz
July 28th, 2010
5:00 pm
Dang, is that FIVE ACC schools agead of the dogs? Hahahahahahaha?
(((((((((( Shreveport )))))))))) hahahahahahahahaha
Herschel Talker
July 28th, 2010
5:01 pm
Yellow Fuzz:
You guys are losers and you know it. Your best team in 10 years got steamrolled by our worst team in 10 years in your house. Still crying?
HT
bjohndawg
July 28th, 2010
5:02 pm
Hey HedgeHumper…. georgia wins 8 of the last 9. And that includes the last one.The one that always give the bragging rights.
Hump on that.
papadawg
July 28th, 2010
5:03 pm
I’m happy. I upset some Lizards & Nerds. My work is done.
supersize that order, mutt
July 28th, 2010
5:03 pm
Since when is a 6-point win, that was in doubt up till the end, considered a steamrolling? Tech didn’t play well enough overall to win, but the mutts certainly didn’t steamroll anybody.
The Cloister
July 28th, 2010
5:03 pm
_____________,,,<<<<<<<<<<<<<<30-24>>>>>>>>>>>>>,,,,________________
POAD
July 28th, 2010
5:05 pm
41 to 17 Tebow cried because he felt he didn’t do his best and he let down his team. Damon Cried because he got caught and just realized he ruined his life. I can’t laugh about Damon did to himself, but I can laugh how he tried to talk BS alround it.
Cox is trying the Buck Belue thing and is going to baseball now.
JCH
July 28th, 2010
5:05 pm
oh Mark, while you’re visiting, don’t forget to take along Jeff Schultz so ya’ll can get a good Picture of what a NATIONAL Championship Town looks like… that is if they even if they let Jeff Schultz across the Alabama.border, better look up that Wuss Judge in Arizona who acts like most Liberal judges in this country, bunch of shameful demagogues.
POAD
July 28th, 2010
5:08 pm
The Cloister a nice HOLIDAY INN now. Maybe more mutt fans can now afford to get on the Island now. Tell J. Portman I said Hello.
PAUL R.
July 28th, 2010
5:09 pm
GUTS……is simply spelled on the Tech campus……NESBITT
If the game is on the line and the need for cool execution is mandatory, there isn’t a quarterback in this country who I would take before Nesbitt,,,and if you Dawg fans would admit that…..if he was wearing red and black…you would be insulted that he wasn’t at the top of the 2010 Heisman watch.
Yellow Fuzz
July 28th, 2010
5:11 pm
sensorship?
POAD
July 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
JCH Tuscaloosa is a beautiful town compared to ah ah well I don’t no a town that ain’t better than tuscaloosa. You are home of DREAMLAND BBQ and Big JOHN. Whatelse you got again? Yes that school built on a dead man’s fame.
Bo
July 28th, 2010
5:14 pm
Mark this finally proves all of your critics right, you’re a UGA homer.
As for Nesbitt, I agree that everything hinges upon him. I’m still amazed at how well CPJ can get 9 guys to block on every play. I can’t imagine how good those guys will be with ‘his’ linemen.
Amelia Island
July 28th, 2010
5:14 pm
30-24 ha!
CPJ & staff
July 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
Hershall Talker
And what about the year before? Our first team steamrolled your preseason number one ranked team in YOUR house.
((((((((((45-42, Still crying?)))))))))) Hahahahahaha
JCH
July 28th, 2010
5:16 pm
hey POAD, BAma recruits like every other college team , except maybe they have a tougher choice of who to let go, Not Everybody gets to play on a NATL Championship Team, ohh, and if Your UGA, You dont even know what it means. Tech won the last NATL Championship back in 1991 between in0state rivals, when was UGA even Considered to play in one??????????????????
POAD
July 28th, 2010
5:17 pm
Sea Island, The Cloister and Amelia Island: Dawgs on Islands unto themselves because no other fans can stand them.
Kellen Moore
July 28th, 2010
5:19 pm
My team is better than Georgia Tech and I am more important than Nesbitt to my team. But don’t worry ACC fan- you’ll get to see this firsthand when I demolish the Virginia Tech defense.
Yellow Fuzz
July 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
{([{([{([{([{([{([{([{([{([{([{([{([{([{([forty five - forty two]}])}])}])}])}])}])}])}])}])}])}])}])}])}])}])}