NC State freshman quarterback Josh Taylor may be one of the feel-good stories emerging in 2013. He is a preferred walk-on from New Bern (N.C.) High that now may be just a snap away from becoming the Pack's primary signal caller.

Taylor and fellow true freshman Bryant Shirreffs are listed as the backup quarterbacks to Pete Thomas, a redshirt junior, after the opening starter, fifth-year senior Brandon Mitchell, broke his foot and subsequently had surgery that will cause him to miss the first half of the season.

Taylor even got the call to go in for a series late in the 40-14 blowout win over Louisiana Tech last Saturday.

"It was unexpected," Taylor admitted, before remembering that Maryland went through four quarterbacks last year. "I was just trying to do whatever Coach [Matt] Canada called. I knew it was late in the game."

Taylor is not likely to be in awe of the moment however. He was a prolific winner at New Bern, winning 45 games, as he was quick to answer when asked, and a state 4-A title last year.

He completed 63.0 percent of his passes on that team, throwing for 2,665 yards and 24 touchdowns with just 10 picks. He added 1,469 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. Yet the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder was largely overlooked on the recruiting trail.

Division II schools like Catawba and UNC Pembroke offered him, but he did not want to settle on those options.

"No offense to those schools," Taylor said. "I just wanted to work my way and if it didn't work out maybe go somewhere."

When Dave Doeren retained running backs coach Des Kitchings, Kitchings took over the New Bern area and began to persuade Taylor to walk-on at NCSU. East Carolina and Charlotte would also offer Taylor similar opportunities, but Taylor decided that if football did not work out, NC State would be where he wanted to attend.

Still, Taylor acknowledged that a part of him felt like he was underappreciated on the recruiting trail.

"Of course you are going to feel like that," Taylor said. "I'm not ragging on any coaches, but I feel like I can play at this level. It's just getting a shot. That's what NC State is offering me.

"It's a great situation here. I can't complain."