Does Doeren's history with transfer QBs provide insight into this year's choice?
Coach Dave Doeren is in no hurry to name a starting quarterback for NC State's season opener against East Carolina on Aug, 31.
With less than two weeks to go until the first snap, he still has yet to name a starter in the three-way battle between sophomore Matthew McKay, redshirt freshman Devin Leary and newcomer Bailey Hockman for the job vacated by recent NFL draft pick Ryan Finley.
Doeren's history with the Wolfpack, however, may provide some insight into how the competition might eventually turn out -- if no for the opening game, but for the bulk of the season.
In each of his first six seasons at State, the veteran coach has turned to a transfer to lead his offense.
It's a pattern that bodes well for Hockman, a redshirt sophomore who started his career a Florida State and attended Hutchinson Community College in Kansas last year. He joins a group that includes Brandon Mitchell, Pete Thomas, Jacoby Brissett and Finley.
Transfer QBs under Doeren
| Player | School | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
Brandon Mitchell | Arkansas | 2013 |
Pete Thomas | Colorado State | 2013 |
Jacoby Brissett | Florida | 2014-15 |
Ryan Finley | Boise State | 2016-18 |
Bailey Hockman | Florida State | 2019- |
Hockman, a 6-foot-2, 208-pound native of Powder Springs, Ga., enrolled early and threw for 203 yards and a touchdown in the Wolfpack's spring game.
It was McKay, however, that came out of the spring as the frontrunner for the job. The 6-4, 210-pound graduate of Raleigh's Wakefield High School is the only one of the three quarterback candidates to have seen any actual college game action, having completed 7 of 8 passes for 87 yards with a rushing touchdown in six mopup appearances last year.
Leary, meanwhile, is a 6-2, 202 pounder who set New Jersey state records by throwing for 9,672 yards and 117 touchdowns in his prep career.
According to Doeren, more than just passing and running ability will be considered in picking the starting quarterback.
"I want to see who's the leader of that group, how do the guys play for them and who can inspire the guys around him," the Wolfpack coach said at the ACC's preseason media event this summer. "It takes time o find that. The good thing is that we've got options."
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