The three NC State starting quarterback candidates aired it out Saturday behind a makeshift offensive line, but the race will continue well into August.
Head coach Dave Doeren was happy his team didn’t suffer any obvious injuries during the Kay Yow Spring Game, which allowed for some of the younger players to flourish. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Matthew McKay completed 14 of 24 passes for 182 yards with a touchdown, and also rushed for a score, while he played with the first-string offensive players.
Redshirt sophomore Bailey Hockman and redshirt freshman Devin Leary rotated between the first- and second-string units, and both completed 12 of 23 passes. Hockman threw for 135 yards with a 61-yard touchdown pass to Max Fisher, while Leary passed for 104 yards with one score and one interception.
FULL STATS FROM NC STATE’S SPRING GAME
Doeren said McKay’s experience in the NC State system was obvious this spring.
“He’s just comfortable and that is the easiest thing to see,” Doeren said. “He’s not pressing. He has been through this. He was a backup and went through a ton of reps last year.
“These guys [Hockman and Leary] have to catch up because they aren’t as comfortable.”
Leary said the various quarterbacks have certain traits that make them special, and he points to arm strength as his. However, it’s a delicate balance on trying to use that to get the football into tight windows and doing what the coaches want.
“What our offense is to take what they give us,” Leary said. “That is what coach always says. Whatever is open, be able to take it and take the completion.”
Leary forced a few throws, which Doeren will discuss with him, but also displayed his live arm. The coach fully expects him to continue to grow, which Leary agreed on.
“You can’t have a great arm and make bad decisions,” Doeren said. “I like where these guys are.”
Doeren and new offensive line coach John Garrison ended up not playing any of the projected five starters due to injuries. Three were expected to sit out going into the scrimmage, but interior linemen Joseph Sculthorpe and Joshua Fedd-Jackson were eventually added to the list.
Only 10 offensive linemen played Saturday.
“I thought the O-linemen really endured,” Doeren said. “They all fought through.”
Zonovan Knight showcases big-play speed
Early enrollee freshman running back Zonovan Knight was a big play waiting to happen at Bailey (N.C.) Southern Nash High. Some things don’t change.
Knight ripped off a 73-yard touchdown run in the second half to help spark NCSU. He finished with a team-high 139 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, an average of 8.2 yards per attempt.
“I just saw nothing but grass,” Knight said of his scoring scamper.
The Rivals.com four-star prospect rushed 124 times for 2,054 yards and 26 touchdowns in 11 games played his senior year.
“We are excited about what he brings to the run game,” Doeren said. “It’s fun to see these young players who just got here get out and play. The only way you get them ready for games is game-like situations.”
Doeren only expects Knight to get even better due to his explosiveness.
“He’s smart, he’s hungry, and he just needs to get in better shape,” Doeren said. “He missed some practices and had a sprained ankle.”
NC State returns sophomore Ricky Person and redshirt freshman Trent Pennix at running back, but have been clamoring for big-play speed, similar to what Nyheim Hines provided in 2017. Hines was legitimately track fast and was on the Wolfpack track and field team. Knight might not have blistering times on the track, but he knows how to break away on the football field.
“In the 100 or 200, I was literally getting caught in high school,” Knight said. “In football, when I break free, nobody can catch me. I don’t know how it works, but it is how it works.”
Knight also has some lofty goals for his freshman year.
“I think we can be great and have a chance to win the ACC,” he said. “The goal is to win a national championship.”
Wide receiver C.J. Riley tops 100 yards
A lot of the focus this spring has been on junior Emeka Emezie when discussion turns toward who will help replace Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers at wide receiver next fall.
Redshirt junior C.J. Riley flashed his considerable potential with six catches for 113 yards. He is the tallest and fastest of the wide receivers at 6-4 and 206 pounds, and timed the team’s fastest 40-yard dash last year (4.48 seconds). In 2018, he caught 28 passes for 315 passes and two touchdowns.
“They are a group that needs to step up,” Doeren said of the wideouts.
Riley said he will take the lessons learned from Harmon, Meyers and 2018 fifth-year senior Steph Louis, and the next few months will be about getting back into the play book, watching more film and developing his route techniques.
“Emeka and I are ready for the challenge for next year,” Riley said. “It’s easy because we all played last year.”
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