jhofficial
08-22-2007, 10:09 PM
A pack for the 'back
A trio of N.C. State quarterbacks battle for the Wolfpack's opening-game starter
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By H. Williams Kellenberger
Rocky Mount Telegram
Sunday, August 19, 2007
RALEIGH — N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien said Saturday there are positional battles all over the field, but all anyone wants to talk about is the quarterback competition.
Yeah, and?
Truth is, something pretty remarkable would have to happen for fullback Pat Bedics or defensive lineman Alan-Michael Cash to take the blame for a loss or credit for a win.
And, particularly at N.C. State, quarterback means something more. Roman Gabriel took his college snaps here; so did Erik Kramer. And former coach Chuck Amato spent three years searching for Philip Rivers' replacement.
The next Rivers still, to date, has not been found.
O'Brien said he will make an announcement between Daniel Evans, Harrison Beck or Justin Burke on Aug. 27, five days before the season opener against Central Florida.
Until then, we'll just continue to look for clues.
HARRISON BECK
Redshirt sophomore
6-foot-2, 213 pounds
2006 stats: Sat out last season after transferring from Nebraska. Played in two games in 2005 for the Cornhuskers, completing one pass in 10 attempts.
BEFORE N.C. STATE: Beck is the most highly-touted of the three quarterbacks. Recruiting guru Tom Lemming listed Beck as the No. 4 quarterback in the nation as a high school senior, but Beck said "it's a long story" about his career at Nebraska. The quarterback competition was in name only, Beck said.
"Zac Taylor practicing and me watching him," is how Beck described it.
WHY HIM?: No one has the arm that Beck does, Blackman said. During the spring game, he stretched the field by throwing to his deep receivers early and often. His high school coach was John Davis, father of former N.C. State quarterback Jay Davis. The elder Davis taught Beck how to calm down and make smart adjustments, while the younger serves almost as a mentor for Beck. They text message and call, whether it's personal or football in nature, often.
NO WAY: The gunslinger mentality fits Beck and maybe he's too stubborn to change. Some guys always want to make the big play that wins the game, even if it is the second quarter, and that label fits him. O'Brien said the quarterback who makes the fewest mistakes will win, but Beck said he does not self-edit himself on the field and believes in trusting his instincts.
OVERALL CHANCES: 20-1 odds. When talking about his struggles in turning the ball over during scrimmages, Beck blamed the fact N.C. State defensive backs know the offense too well at this point of fall camp. That may be true, but O'Brien's military background does not play well with excuse-makers.
DANIEL EVANS
Redshirt junior
6–foot-2, 191 pounds
2006 stats: Started nine games; threw six touchdowns and 11 interceptions; 102.8 passer rating was 12th in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
BEFORE N.C. STATE: Evans was a pint-sized kid at Raleigh Broughton, throwing for almost 3,800 yards his senior season in a spread offense that confused opponents. His father, Johnny, was an All-America punter at N.C. State in the 1970s and now serves as part of the radio broadcast team. Evans' scholarship was largely seen as a legacy gift.
WHY HIM?: Evans is living every kid's fantasy. He and his brother, Andrew (a walk-on wide receiver), grew up with the Wolfpack and bleed N.C. State red more than anyone on this staff. He engineered late-game wins against Boston College and Florida State, so he's shown an ability to get it done during crunch time. Of the three, he is the most experienced, and wide receiver Darrell Blackman said Evans is the best at throwing precision routes.
NO WAY: Evans might be 191 pounds with his full gear on. After his first two starts made him a legend, Evans struggled tremendously. Some question his overall arm strength, no one sees him as a future NFL guy and it is fair to wonder if he just got lucky.
OVERALL CHANCES: 5-1 odds. He's the perfect middle option – not as erratic as Beck, nor as inexperienced as Burke – and could keep the seat warm until Mike Glennon (a highly-touted high school senior who has committed to the Pack) is ready.
JUSTIN BURKE
Redshirt freshman
6-foot-3, 210 pounds
2006 stats: Redshirted.
BEFORE N.C. STATE: Like Evans, Burke is the son of a punter (his father, Greg, played at Morehead State). He started playing quarterback because he could run well, eventually went to Lexington Catholic, known for its development of quarterbacks, and won the starting job as a sophomore. The man he replaced, Tanner Doss, played defensive back at Air Force.
WHY HIM?: He has the most upside. Teammates were calling him the next Rivers during last year's camp, and it shows now. He's calm, deliberate and does not seem like the type of kid who lets much get to him. Plus, he has all the physical tools. Blackman said Burke is the one most comfortable running outside of the pocket and making something happen. He should be fine doing that, since he gained 15 pounds of muscle since entering campus.
NO WAY: It would be difficult to put a redshirt freshman, who has obviously never taken a college snap, and put him behind center as the centerpiece of a new program. He's been the most accurate passer in scrimmages, but stats (all we have to go on, since media are barred from scrimmages) seem to indicate Burke is playing it safe and throwing for short gains.
OVERALL CHANCES: 10-1 odds. It would take a huge leap of faith for O'Brien and offensive coordinator Dana Bible, but Burke could grow in this role and, by the time he is a senior, have 36 starts under his belt and be ready to lead N.C. State to the eventual goal – an ACC championship.
A trio of N.C. State quarterbacks battle for the Wolfpack's opening-game starter
Click-2-Listen
By H. Williams Kellenberger
Rocky Mount Telegram
Sunday, August 19, 2007
RALEIGH — N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien said Saturday there are positional battles all over the field, but all anyone wants to talk about is the quarterback competition.
Yeah, and?
Truth is, something pretty remarkable would have to happen for fullback Pat Bedics or defensive lineman Alan-Michael Cash to take the blame for a loss or credit for a win.
And, particularly at N.C. State, quarterback means something more. Roman Gabriel took his college snaps here; so did Erik Kramer. And former coach Chuck Amato spent three years searching for Philip Rivers' replacement.
The next Rivers still, to date, has not been found.
O'Brien said he will make an announcement between Daniel Evans, Harrison Beck or Justin Burke on Aug. 27, five days before the season opener against Central Florida.
Until then, we'll just continue to look for clues.
HARRISON BECK
Redshirt sophomore
6-foot-2, 213 pounds
2006 stats: Sat out last season after transferring from Nebraska. Played in two games in 2005 for the Cornhuskers, completing one pass in 10 attempts.
BEFORE N.C. STATE: Beck is the most highly-touted of the three quarterbacks. Recruiting guru Tom Lemming listed Beck as the No. 4 quarterback in the nation as a high school senior, but Beck said "it's a long story" about his career at Nebraska. The quarterback competition was in name only, Beck said.
"Zac Taylor practicing and me watching him," is how Beck described it.
WHY HIM?: No one has the arm that Beck does, Blackman said. During the spring game, he stretched the field by throwing to his deep receivers early and often. His high school coach was John Davis, father of former N.C. State quarterback Jay Davis. The elder Davis taught Beck how to calm down and make smart adjustments, while the younger serves almost as a mentor for Beck. They text message and call, whether it's personal or football in nature, often.
NO WAY: The gunslinger mentality fits Beck and maybe he's too stubborn to change. Some guys always want to make the big play that wins the game, even if it is the second quarter, and that label fits him. O'Brien said the quarterback who makes the fewest mistakes will win, but Beck said he does not self-edit himself on the field and believes in trusting his instincts.
OVERALL CHANCES: 20-1 odds. When talking about his struggles in turning the ball over during scrimmages, Beck blamed the fact N.C. State defensive backs know the offense too well at this point of fall camp. That may be true, but O'Brien's military background does not play well with excuse-makers.
DANIEL EVANS
Redshirt junior
6–foot-2, 191 pounds
2006 stats: Started nine games; threw six touchdowns and 11 interceptions; 102.8 passer rating was 12th in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
BEFORE N.C. STATE: Evans was a pint-sized kid at Raleigh Broughton, throwing for almost 3,800 yards his senior season in a spread offense that confused opponents. His father, Johnny, was an All-America punter at N.C. State in the 1970s and now serves as part of the radio broadcast team. Evans' scholarship was largely seen as a legacy gift.
WHY HIM?: Evans is living every kid's fantasy. He and his brother, Andrew (a walk-on wide receiver), grew up with the Wolfpack and bleed N.C. State red more than anyone on this staff. He engineered late-game wins against Boston College and Florida State, so he's shown an ability to get it done during crunch time. Of the three, he is the most experienced, and wide receiver Darrell Blackman said Evans is the best at throwing precision routes.
NO WAY: Evans might be 191 pounds with his full gear on. After his first two starts made him a legend, Evans struggled tremendously. Some question his overall arm strength, no one sees him as a future NFL guy and it is fair to wonder if he just got lucky.
OVERALL CHANCES: 5-1 odds. He's the perfect middle option – not as erratic as Beck, nor as inexperienced as Burke – and could keep the seat warm until Mike Glennon (a highly-touted high school senior who has committed to the Pack) is ready.
JUSTIN BURKE
Redshirt freshman
6-foot-3, 210 pounds
2006 stats: Redshirted.
BEFORE N.C. STATE: Like Evans, Burke is the son of a punter (his father, Greg, played at Morehead State). He started playing quarterback because he could run well, eventually went to Lexington Catholic, known for its development of quarterbacks, and won the starting job as a sophomore. The man he replaced, Tanner Doss, played defensive back at Air Force.
WHY HIM?: He has the most upside. Teammates were calling him the next Rivers during last year's camp, and it shows now. He's calm, deliberate and does not seem like the type of kid who lets much get to him. Plus, he has all the physical tools. Blackman said Burke is the one most comfortable running outside of the pocket and making something happen. He should be fine doing that, since he gained 15 pounds of muscle since entering campus.
NO WAY: It would be difficult to put a redshirt freshman, who has obviously never taken a college snap, and put him behind center as the centerpiece of a new program. He's been the most accurate passer in scrimmages, but stats (all we have to go on, since media are barred from scrimmages) seem to indicate Burke is playing it safe and throwing for short gains.
OVERALL CHANCES: 10-1 odds. It would take a huge leap of faith for O'Brien and offensive coordinator Dana Bible, but Burke could grow in this role and, by the time he is a senior, have 36 starts under his belt and be ready to lead N.C. State to the eventual goal – an ACC championship.