Each week I submit a Tri-Partisan column to WRALSportsFan.com, and here is today's feature where I tell you why NC State should start Devin Leary and no longer tinker with the quarterback position.
WRALSportsFan.com: NC State May Have Found The Answer In Devin Leary
We all knew when Ryan Finley graduated that NC State would have to find a replacement at a position that had been in good hands the previous three seasons. The Wolfpack had multiple options, and while the coaches and fans probably felt good about those options, you never know until a player gets it done on the field.
Dave Doeren used spring practice and fall camp to choose a starter out of Matthew McKay, Bailey Hockman, and Devin Leary, with McKay ultimately getting the nod. A local product out of Raleigh (NC) Wakefield High School, McKay had been with the team the longest, was familiar with the system, and added a dual-threat element to the offense. It now appears that the offseason competition might have been much closer than outsiders initially thought, and that McKay’s seniority may have been the deciding factor entering the season.
McKay's numbers in his five starts weren't terrible, totaling seven touchdowns with just one turnover, but he wasn't progressing at the level the coaching staff had hoped. As a result, that opened the door for Bailey Hockman to receive his opportunity.
Truthfully, Hockman wasn't any better. In fact, he was worse. He played most of the Florida State game and all of Syracuse, leading the Pack to just 13 and 16 points, respectively -- the lowest totals of the season. It really hit rock bottom for Hockman at Boston College, where he struggled against a defense that had been shredded in recent weeks.
He played the first quarter of the game, and the only touchdown he threw was to the Eagles -- a pick six that put BC up midway through the first quarter. That throw (along with the errant pass to Thayer Thomas on fourth down that could have been a touchdown) likely opened the door for the third QB to get his shot: redshirt freshman Devin Leary. READ FULL STORY HERE: LINK
