One of the most closely watched quarterbacks this fall is Virginia Tech senior Logan Thomas, who has immense physical gifts but played poorly last season.
Thomas (6-foot-6, 254 pounds) has been timed as fast as 4.67 seconds in the 40-yard dash and has a huge arm. He can both run past linebackers and run them over. But his passing ability remains a question.
One positive this season, Thomas told reporters Tuesday, is that he has learned how to go through his progressions. He said that was not a priority for the former offensive staff but that it is for new coordinator Scot Loeffler.
Things we learned
From AJ McCarron praising an unsung hero for Alabama's win to Oregon's epic rout, here are the things we learned from the third weekend of college football play. **More ...**
Thomas threw for 3,013 yards, 19 TDs and 10 picks as a first-time starter in 2011, when he completed 59.8 percent of his passes. But he slumped in 2012, throwing for 2,976 yards, 18 TDs and 16 interceptions. His completion percentage dropped all the way to 51.3 percent. While he threw a TD pass in all but one game last season, he also threw an interception in all but four games and had six games with at least two picks.
Going by his stats, he hasn't improved this season. Through three games, he has hit on only 47 percent of his 100 attempts and has thrown for 517 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Before the season, he said his goal was fewer than five interceptions and a 62-percent completion rate.
Working with an inexperienced receiving corps has made life difficult for Thomas. The Hokies' starting receivers are a sophomore and a redshirt freshman, and there is only one senior (D.J. Coles, who has started three games in his career) in the receiver rotation.
"I'm gaining confidence when they're gaining confidence," Thomas said of his receivers.
Virginia Tech plays its final non-conference game Saturday, against Marshall, a team with a porous defense. ACC play opens on Sept. 26, when the Hokies travel to Georgia Tech, and the defenses get tougher. In short, there's not much time for Thomas to get started on the right path.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.