ATLANTA -- Justin Thomas's will to win has helped Georgia Tech get off to an impressive start in what has been a memorable first month as the Yellow Jackets' starting quarterback.<br />
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Thomas, who has back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, is one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's new names in starring roles.<br />
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Among the ACC's other breakout stars: Louisville safety Gerod Holliman, another first-year starter who leads the nation in interceptions; Duke freshman running back Shaun Wilson, who had a school-record 245 yards rushing against Kansas; Florida State receiver Jesus Wilson and North Carolina State quarterback Jacoby Brissett.<br />
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Behind Thomas, the Yellow Jackets are quietly still unbeaten.<br />
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He ranks second among FBS quarterbacks with his 110.8 yards rushing per game. That's impressive but not a huge surprise. Georgia Tech's spread option attack has produced big rushing numbers for other quarterbacks.<br />
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It's more notable when a Georgia Tech quarterback has seven touchdown passes so early in the season. No quarterback in Paul Johnson's first six years as coach had more than 11 for a full season.<br />
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Thomas, a sophomore, has made his mark with comeback wins.<br />
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He threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Deon Hill with 23 seconds remaining to lift Georgia Tech to a 42-38 win over Georgia Southern. Thomas provided more clutch play by running for 165 yards and passing for 125 yards, including the tying touchdown pass, in a 27-24 comeback win at Virginia Tech. He also had an 80-yard touchdown run wiped out by a penalty against the Hokies.<br />
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Thomas said he is motivated by "the will to win, not wanting to fail."<br />
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"I know nobody wants to fail but it's the want-to, I guess," he said. "You've got to want to win and do anything possible to help the team to win."<br />
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Johnson said Thomas plays with poise for a first-year starter and continues to improve.<br />
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"The more success he has, the more confident he gets," Johnson said. "When he becomes confident and he plays more, he's going to be a handful. He's got the skill traits to be pretty good."<br />
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At Louisville, Holliman has made his mark on the other side of the ball.<br />
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He already has six interceptions, though he didn't break into the Cardinals' starting lineup until last week. He was a backup last season to all-conference safeties Hakeem Smith and Calvin Pryor.<br />
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Holliman had his second straight two-interception game last week at Florida International. He returned one for a touchdown.<br />
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Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said Holliman plays with confidence because he "has done a really nice job of studying, understanding what passing routes we're going to see."<br />
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Duke's Wilson is just a freshman who doesn't start, but leads the nation with his average of 12.08 yards per carry. He is only third in Duke's four-man rotation, but he flashed star potential with his school-record performance against Kansas in just his third college game.<br />
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His strategy for success is pretty simple.<br />
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"Get the ball, and if you see green, you've got to just go," he said.<br />
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Another Wilson is also having a breakout season: Jesus Wilson at Florida State, no relation to Shaun.<br />
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Jesus Wilson, a sophomore who had only three catches last year, already has 13 for 200 yards and three touchdowns as the Seminoles' complement to star senior Rashad Greene.<br />
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The diminutive Wilson (5-foot-9, 177 pounds) broke out with six catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns against North Carolina State last week.<br />
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"He's always had athleticism," said coach Jimbo Fisher. "Now he's doing it and has confidence and he's done a great job. He really has a lot of ability, and he's a very smart young man."<br />
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Fisher also praised the Wolfpack's Brissett, who the coach said he tried to recruit.<br />
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Brissettt has found a home in North Carolina. The Florida transfer threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns in North Carolina State's 56-41 loss to No. 1 Florida State. His big day may not have surprised Wolfpack fans since he entered the season with high expectations, but it earned him national attention.<br />
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His mobility extended plays and frustrated Florida State's defense.<br />
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Through five games, Brissett has 13 TD passes and only one interception.<br />
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Impressive numbers, just like they have been for all the new names in starring roles.