Ex-Malvern Prep quarterback Ryan Nassib will present challenge for Temple

Steve Addazio's eyes grew wide when he was asked this week about Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib.

"He's a first-round draft pick," said Addazio, whose Temple football team hosts the Orange on Friday at Lincoln Financial Field.

"He's the best quarterback in our conference. Best. And he can throw the heck out of it. I've never seen a guy throw so few inaccurate passes. They are always on the money."

Nassib, a former Malvern Prep star, has made similar impressions on just about every other opposing coach. The fifth-year senior heads into the regular-season finale against Temple (4-6, 2-4 Big East) as the owner of every major career and single-season passing record at Syracuse (6-5, 4-2).

That's not bad for a quarterback who lined up in the wing-T in high school.

"We probably threw it about six or seven" times at Malvern Prep, Nassib said.

These days, Nassib's strong arm and quick release are being utilized fully. He has already set Orange single-season records of 3,404 passing yards, 309.5 average passing yards per game, 23 touchdown passes, 3,518 total yards, and 267 completions.

Nassib's 764 career completions are also Syracuse and Big East records, and he owns the Orange career passing yardage record of 8,845.

His 67 career touchdown passes rank second at Syracuse behind former Eagle Donovan McNabb and third all-time in the Big East.

Nassib's best statistical game came in the 42-41 season-opening loss to Northwestern. In that game, the 6-foot-3, 227-pounder set Big East and Syracuse single-game records with 482 passing yards, 45 completions, and 66 attempts. He also threw four touchdowns and set the Orange's total yards record of 512.

"It's hard to compare myself to those guys because they won so many more games - certainly so many more big games - than I was fortunate enough to do," Nassib said of surpassing records of McNabb and Marvin Graves and Don McPherson, other great Syracuse quarterbacks.

"But I was able to have some great receivers here and deal with some great coaches that put me in the best position to break those records and make plays."

Nassib, a redshirt as a freshman, was named the starter in the spring of 2009, beating out Cameron Dantley and Andrew Robinson. But Duke basketball star Greg Paulus transferred to Syracuse, and coach Doug Marrone elevated Paulus, a high school football star, to starting quarterback in the fall.

Nassib became the starter in 2010. CBS.Sports.com projects Nassib as a second-round pick in April's NFL draft, but other mock drafts have him sneaking into the first round. While playing in the NFL is a goal, the West Chester native said that's not his focus.

Instead, he's concentrating on Temple. Then he will turn his attention to Syracuse's season-ending bowl game.

Friday's game at the Linc will be a homecoming of sorts for Nassib. He's expecting 50 friends and family members at what will be his only college game in Philadelphia.

"I'm very fortunate to get an opportunity," he said of playing at the Linc. "I got real lucky."

The Owls' struggling defense may need some luck of its own to stop him. Temple ranks 117th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in pass efficiency defense with a 156.58 rating.

The Owls are also last in the Big East in scoring defense, yielding 30.5 points per game, and total defense, yielding 432.9 yards per game.

"He's the most accurate guy I've ever seen," Addazio said. "He's a decision maker. He's tough. He's a leader. He's got all the intangibles. And he's got a pro arm."

Year   Gms   Comp.   Att.   Pct.   Yds   TD   Int.   Long

2009   10    36    68   52.9     422    3   1    50

2010   13   202   358   56.4   2,334   19   8   52

2011   12   259   415   62.4   2,685   22   9   62

2012   10   241   380   63.3   2,773   18   8   68

Totals   45   738   1,221   58.7   8,460   65   26   68EndText