Has Wolfpack QB competition been reopened?

There are indications that backup Bailey Hockman might be ready to challenge Matthew McKay for the starting job

Rob Kinnan/USAToday sports

The first hint that NC State's starting quarterback job might soon be up for grabs again came during the second quarter Saturday night against Ball State when backup Bailey Hockman was sent in to run the offense for a series.

It wasn't that starter Matthew McKay was being benched. Coach Dave Doeren said afterward that it was part of the game plan to give Hockman some "meaningful" snaps beyond his usual mopup duty.

His cameo appearance, however, led to speculation that Doeren might be prepping his prized recruit for an even bigger role -- perhaps even as the starter -- after McKay completed only one of his seven second half passes for a single yard in the Wolfpack's 34-23 victory.

McKay, who has started each of State's first four games thus far, is still listed atop the depth chart for Saturday's ACC opener at Florida State. But if Hockman's reaction to a question about his status on Tuesday is any indication, a change could potentially be in the offing.

Let's just say his poker face could use some work.

"I don't think I'm at mercy to say that," he said, flashing a sly grin, when asked if he'd been told he'll getting more playing time Saturday.

"That's all up to Coach Doeren. I'm just going to keep working day-to-day and focus on what I can do better and help this team win."

McKay also deferred comment on the Wolfpack's quarterback situation to Doeren, who said on Monday he and his coaches "don't have anything in stone yet" when it comes to the quarterback situation.

Doeren also said that he and his staff have "talked about everything," when asked if he might consider using a two-quarterback system similar to the one current quarterback coach Kurt Roper used when he was at Duke.

"There's always competition,"  he said. "Competition within, competition between yourself. At the end of the day, all positions have competition."

McKay won the initial competition for the starting job by besting Hockman and redshirt freshman Devin Leary during preseason camp. It was a decision Doeren said was based on the sophomore's performance in practice and his experience as the only quarterback in the program that had played in an actually college game.

Doeren also praised McKay's accuracy and he's delivered in that regard -- completing 58 percent of his passes for 890 yards, three touchdowns and only one interception. But he's also had trouble throwing the ball downfield and his offense has sputtered after halftime over the past two weeks.

If the competition for the starting job has, in fact, been reopened, McKay said he welcomes the challenge.

"It makes me better," he said. "It makes me work harder."

Hockman didn't exactly shine in his two possessions on Saturday. He had a timely 20 yard scramble to convert a third down, but was intercepted after driving the Wolfpack into the red zone. In his second series late in the game, he completed a short pass for a 15-yard gain that allowed State to run out the clock.

But according to Doeren, the former Florida State recruit who spent last season sitting the year out at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas has been making steady progress at practice since his arrival.

"Every day I feel like I'm getting better," Hockman said. "That's all I want to do, keep getting better every day. Just like Tom Brady and any of those guys that started at the bottom and just rose to the top. That's all I'm focused on."

Both McKay and Hockman said they are the best of friends and pledged to support each other regardless of which happens to be in the the game and which is watching from the sideline.

"We always coach each other up, watch film every single day together," McKay said. "We just stay within the state of our team and block out all the noise."

Here's the entire interview with Hockman ...

And here's the bulk of the interview with McKay ...