Because Taylor played 5 more games than Jake, let’s make an apples to apples comparison by taking the average production per game from each player’s sophomore and junior seasons:

Jake Plummer looks on at ASU’s 2013 Spring Game at Sun Devil Stadium

Jake Plummer (6-2, 204 lbs)

• Passing per game: 303 Yards, 1.45 touchdowns and .82 interceptions.
• Rushing per game: -5.4 yards and .09 touchdowns.
• All-purpose yards per game: 297.6 and 1.54 touchdowns

Taylor Kelly (6-2, 203 lbs)

• Passing per game: 248 yards, 2.1 touchdowns and .78 interceptions.
• Rushing per game: 42 yards and .37 touchdowns.
• All-purpose yards per game: 290 yards and 2.47 touchdowns

Sun Devil Careers

In his 4 seasons in Tempe, Jake Plummer became ASU’s all-time leader in pass completions, passing attempts and passing yards. His *8,626 passing yards places him at #20 all-time in the Pac-10/12 conference, and Plummer’s *65 career touchdowns also ranks #20 in the conference. *Does not include stats from the 1997 Rose Bowl 

In ASU’s record books, Plummer has the 3rd most passing yards ever and the 5th most passing touchdowns.

In 3 years, Taylor Kelly is already #43 in passing yards in conference history. If he repeats his performance from 2013 next season, he will finish with 10,340 yards, placing him somewhere near #10 in conference history and one spot ahead of, you’ll like this, Nick Foles of Arizona (10,011 yards). Again if Kelly repeats his 2013 performance, he will finish with 85 touchdowns. This would place him in a tie at #3 in Pac 10/12 history with, you’ll like this even more, ASU’s Andrew Walter. (#1 and #2 are USC’s Matt Barkley and Matt Leinart). 

At the current rate, Kelly will pass Plummer’s total passing yards and will finish tied with Andrew Walter as the touchdown leader. With a stronger receiving core expected next season, perhaps Kelly will pick up an extra TD or two and finish with more touchdowns than every great quarterback in Sun Devil history.

Jake Plummer, who was 3rd in votes for the 1996 Heisman Trophy, will always hold his place in the pantheon of playmakers and Sun Devil quarterbacks. He had a California-casual persona and was as cool as he was talented. Then you have Taylor Kelly who, despite making an artform out of flying below everyone’s radar, will easily become one of ASU’s top QB’s of all time. With TK, we are truly watching greatness in action.

Bonus:

Here’s a video of the 2010 Idaho 5A State Championship game. Taylor Kelly, who played quarterback for Eagle High School, led his team to a 22-21 victory over the #1 ranked Capital High School, where Jake Plummer was a 3-way star athlete. Jake Plummer and Taylor Kelly will always be connected.

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