The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1113082
42 ■ THE WOLFPACKER where the drama was low due to the emer- gence of Steven Montez in 2017. "I've obviously been in quarterback bat- tles before," Roper said. "What you try to do is give as many reps as you need so you can evaluate it and see how they improve during the spring. "Each situation that comes up in practice, we look at really closely to see how they are making decisions, taking care of the foot- ball and moving the team down the field." Roper noted that being comfortable and moving the ball will factor greatly into de- ciding the winner of the competition. "The first process of playing quarterback is learning our system," Roper said. "The longer you are in the system, the more you understand the system. You can operate through that really quickly." The newcomers like Hockman and Evans are trying to learn formations, where play- ers will be and how a player in motion af- fects the play, among other specifics. "You are having to process all that infor- mation pre-snap, where Matt doesn't have to think about it," Roper said. Leary ran NCSU's scout team last fall and then got to immerse himself into the Wolfpack offense during bowl practices and this spring. "He didn't spend time managing our sys- tem," Roper said. "It's our motions, our for- mations and our cadences. He was running somebody else's [last season]. "Those are valuable reps and you are get- ting the speed of the game, but you aren't getting all the work of running our system. He's further behind in managing the game." Roper spent the last few months viewing game film of NCSU's offense last year, but didn't take a deep dive into watching Leary and McKay. He did get to see McKay in practices leading up to the Gator Bowl. McKay was able to play the fourth quar- ter of the eventual 52-13 loss to Texas A&M. He rushed six times for 14 yards and learned a few things about decision making in the process. "They were pretty fast. I learned to get low and drop your shoulder, and don't run sideways," McKay said. "You want to try and get up the field and get some yards. When I got hit, I was like, 'I can't do that again.'" The players also pointed out that there is a quarterback standard to live up to at NC State, which has been dubbed "QB U" due to producing current NFL signal-callers Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson, Mike Glen- non, Jacoby Brissett and now Finley. "I believe it's a blessing looking at the great quarterbacks that came through here," McKay said. "It makes you work harder just to earn that spot." ■ Former Wolfpack Star Levar Fisher Is Bullish On The Pack's Quarterbacks Former NC State legend Levar Fisher was able to help with the Wolfpack radio broadcast of the Kay Yow Spring Game April 6, giving him a unique vantage point. The linebacker standout, who was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2000, was keenly interested in watching the Wolfpack's three quarterback candidates — redshirt sophomores Matthew McKay and Bailey Hockman, and redshirt freshman Devin Leary. All three got the chance to throw the football around, but one caught the eye of Fisher, who was a second- round draft choice of the Arizona Cardinals in 2002. He believes McKay is the favorite to win the starting job exiting the spring. NCSU head coach Dave Doeren also pointed out that the Raleigh native was the "most comfortable." Fisher sees down-the-road NFL potential in McKay and called him a "bigger Russell Wilson." "You see that deep ball that he threw?" Fisher asked. "I like that kid. He's big, he's strong and he's athletic. He seems to really have taken control of the offense." The big left arm of Florida State transfer Hockman definitely got Fisher's attention. "You keep hearing whispers about that lefty's arm, Hockman's arm," Fisher said. Leary has a strong arm as well and is starting to learn how to harness it. "The kid has put in his time," Fisher said. "He has the respect. All three quarterbacks, with the time they've put in, they have the respect of the locker room." Fisher said players usually can pick up on subtle clues about which individual the coaches favor. "It's good to have competition, but I think the players know who the real starter is," he explained. "They know who is good. They know whom the coaches are favoring or whom they like the most. Every position coach clamors for their guy." NC State opens the 2019 season against East Carolina Aug. 31, and Doeren likely didn't want to show his hand too much for the Pirates in the spring scrimmage. "Coach Doeren knows exactly what he is doing," Fisher noted. "Any time you see him do an interview, he's so tight-lipped about the quarterback controversy and anything else with starters. I'm just a fan of Coach Doeren." Fisher expects one of the quarterbacks to emerge and for the Wolfpack to have another good season. "It's a young team, but nobody wants to hear that," he said. "We want to win. Those guys are putting in the work, with the new blood coming in and new coaches with new energy. "Every year, it seems like we are almost there. It is time for more winning, and I think that is what is going to happen." — Jacey Zembal Devin Leary, who redshirted as a freshman this past fall, put his big arm on display in the Kay Yow Spring Game, completing 12 of 23 passes for 104 yards with one touchdown and one interception. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN