Doeren names Hockman starter for Syracuse game

Former starter Matthew McKay is now listed third on the Wolfpack's weekly depth chart

Melina Myers/USAToday sports

Redshirt sophomore Bailey Hockman will be NC State's starting quarterback when it takes on Syracuse on Thursday. Coach Dave Doeren made the announcement at his regular weekly press conference on Monday.

The decision was hardly unexpected given Hockman's performance in relief of former starter Matthew McKay in the Wolfpack's most recent game, two weeks ago at Florida State. 

Nor was it a surprise that redshirt freshman Devin Leary, who also played well in a brief late appearance in the 31-13 loss to the Seminoles, has replaced McKay as the team's primary backup.

"Going into Ball State (on Sept. 21), we just felt like we weren't throwing the ball efficiently enough," Doeren said. "That's when you saw us give Bailey a series at the beginning of the second quarter so that we could make a better evaluation of would it be better, because we hadn't given him real game reps. Just mopup reps.

"We felt like he did well there and practicing. Devin had been getting better in the things he was doing. Then we got in the game and we just weren't moving the football. So we gave (Hockman) an opportunity and we started to get some balls down the field and it opened up some things."

Doeren was asked if both Hockman and Leary might see action against the Orange, but he declined to answer, saying with a chuckle that he wasn't going to give away his game plan.

McKay has struggled since getting off to a promising start in the season opener against East Carolina. He's completed 57 percent of his passes for 910 yard and three touchdowns, but he's had trouble connecting on passes downfield.

Only six of his 86 competions have gone for 20 or more yards, prompting Doeren to finally make a change after three possessions in Tallahassee.

Hockman didn't exactly tear it up while hitting on 21 of his 40 pass attempts for 208 yards and a touchdown against FSU. But he did give the Wolfpack more of a vertical passing threat. Leary then finished up by going 4 of 5 for 54 yards in his first college action.

Their performance convinced Doeren to re-open his quarterback competition during the open week between FSU and this week's game against Syracuse.

"We'd been running the football well, so it was just a matter of being able to take advantage of some coverage matchups we were getting," Doeren said. "I felt like (Hockman) gave us that ... then to see Devin come in and do what he did. That's where we're at.

"We're not explosive in the pass game right now. We're not getting enough explosive passes. We're not getting enough pass interference calls downfield, so I feel like that gives us a shot. For Matt, it's a chance for him to take a look at what he needs to do to improve and I know he will."

Doeren added that McKay has handled his demotion well.