The quarterback position should be a strength throughout the ACC this year, moreso than any other season in recent memory. That is, of course, assuming the starters all stay healthy and on the field. If not, some teams could be in serious trouble. Here’s a look at the backup quarterback situation at each school.

IN GREAT SHAPE

School: Florida State

Starter: EJ Manuel

Top backup: Clint Trickett

The skinny: Trickett came out of the spring and entered summer camp with a firm hold on the backup spot. Redshirt freshman Jacob Coker is pushing Trickett, but is No. 3 right now in front of two true freshmen, Jameis Winston and Sean Maguire. The Noles are in great shape with Trickett because he started two games when Manuel was hurt last year, and he played in nine games.

IN GOOD SHAPE

School: Boston College

Starter: Chase Rettig

Top backup: Josh Bordner

The skinny: Bordner was listed second along with Dave Shinskie on the depth chart behind Rettig for each of BC’s last three games of the 2011 season -- NC State, Notre Dame and Miami. Bordner earned the No. 2 spot on the pre-spring game depth chart and post-spring game depth chart. He worked out with the second-team offense in the first scrimmage of preseason camp, completing 9-of-18 passes for 71 yards. Bordner played in five games last year.

School: Clemson

Starter: Tajh Boyd

Top backup: Cole Stoudt

The skinny: There is plenty of depth and talent behind Boyd, but not a lot of experience. Stoudt was the backup to Boyd a year ago, too, but he is being pushed at practices by highly touted recruit Chad Kelly, the nephew of Jim Kelly, a quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kelly was rated the No. 4 quarterback in his class by ESPN.com. Stoudt was 12-21 passing for 115 yards in 71 snaps over six games last year. He completed 57.1 percent of his passes. Tony McNeal suffered a torn ACL on the final offensive play of Clemson’s spring game, and will miss the season. The Tigers also have Morgan Roberts, a redshirt freshman.

WORTH WORRYING

School: Wake Forest

Starter: Tanner Price

Top backup: Brendan Cross

The skinny: Patrick Thompson has been taking reps at No. 2 since Cross has missed a few days with a virus. Neither of them, though, have done much with the limited playing time they’ve had. Cross’ only appearance of 2011 was against Gardner-Webb. He played in 2010 as a redshirt freshman, but he has only thrown eight career pass attempts. Thompson, a redshirt freshman last year, has only one pass attempt in one game.

School: Maryland

Starter: Perry Hills

Top backup: Caleb Rowe

The skinny: Maryland got devastating news on Wednesday when it learned starter C.J. Brown would miss the entire season with a torn right ACL. Perry Hills, a true freshman, got an immediate promotion, while Rowe moved up to the No. 2 spot and Devin Burns, a receiver who was competing for the No. 2 spot there, volunteered to become the No. 3 quarterback. It was a punch in the gut to an offense trying to recover from a 2-10 season and move on without former starter Danny O'Brien, who transferred to Wisconsin.

School: NC State

Starter: Mike Glennon

Top backup: Manny Stocker

The skinny: If Glennon gets hurt, NC State is in trouble. That’s not a knock on Stocker, who has impressed coach Tom O’Brien with his maturity, he’s just not ready to be the Wolfpack’s starter. Stocker is a true freshman who received an unexpected promotion after Tyler Brosius left school to play junior college baseball. Walk-on Garrett Leatham is the Pack’s only other available quarterback. Pete Thomas, a transfer from Colorado State, has to sit out the season under NCAA rules.