NC State’s accidental QB Hockman makes most of his chance, even if it’s the only one
In that moment when the lights go down and that low voice breaks the news that the understudy will be playing the star role, there’s always a sense of anticipation amid the disappointment. Everyone has to start somewhere. Maybe Saturday was one of those moments for N.C. State.
In the Wolfpack’s curtain-raiser against Wake Forest the role of starting quarterback was played by Bailey Hockman, a surprise and last-minute replacement for Devin Leary, and not four hours later Dave Doeren was fending off questions about a potential quarterback controversy brewing.
“I’m going to enjoy the win tonight,” the N.C. State coach said. “You guys can talk about that one.”
There probably is not: Hockman’s performance was burnished by its novelty and bolstered by a nearly unstoppable running game, and in the big picture the Wolfpack probably needs more out of the position. But merely in the frame of Saturday’s 45-42 win over Wake Forest, Hockman did more than enough with his left arm and both of his feet, starting with 12 straight completions, throwing for one touchdown, running for another.
He may have benefited from low expectations, but he also unquestionably delivered under difficult circumstances. Those opening 12 passes included completions of 32, 30, 21 and 17 yards, and Hockman did enough through the air to keep Wake Forest’s defense honest and let Ricky Person and Bam Knight run wild.
Hockman finished 4-for-11 and threw only four passes after a third-quarter interception turned into a Wake Forest touchdown, even with the game very much in the balance, which suggests that N.C. State’s coaching staff was already getting cold feet for next week.
But it’s impossible to underestimate the value of Hockman’s steady early performance, on a night when Carter-Finley was cloaked in trepidation and uncertainty before kickoff, when no one really knew just how ready the Wolfpack really was. All of those fears were only magnified by the sudden disclosure of Leary’s status — then calmed by Hockman’s poise.
“My mindset coming into the game was just to focus and lock in and just do my part,” Hockman said. “Not try to be Superman and do too much. Just do my part.”
This wasn’t the first game Hockman started at quarterback for N.C. State, although it was by far the most unexpected. The Florida State transfer started a pair of games last season, taking a brief spin on the Wolfpack’s merry-go-round under center that ended up wobbling to a halt on Leary.
It was Leary’s job to lose to start this season, and he didn’t necessarily lose it, but he didn’t play against Wake Forest, either. The redshirt sophomore missed 20 days of practice in quarantine, and as Saturday’s game approached, it started to become clear that was too much. Leary wasn’t ready.
“He wasn’t really there,” Doeren said. “He had some rust. He was a victim of circumstance, to be honest. We tried to get him back for the game. He was practicing, getting better. But 20 days, however many practices that was, we didn’t feel like he was sharp enough.”
So Hockman — the forgotten man for this season because of Leary’s emergence and likely in the future with the arrival of freshman Ben Finley — became N.C. State’s accidental starter.
And if Doeren appears eager to get Leary back on the field, Hockman also appears eager to make that difficult.
“Devin’s done a great job also,” Hockman said. “So much credit to him. He’s a great player. But it’s a competition. At the end of day, I’m happy to be the guy for this team.”
For one night, at the least, and maybe at the most, Hockman was.
ACC STANDINGS
T1. N.C. State 1-0 (1-0 overall)
T1. North Carolina 1-0 (1-0)
T1. Clemson 1-0 (2-0)
T1. Miami 1-0 (2-0)
T1. Notre Dame 1-0 (2-0)
T1. Pittsburgh 1-0 (2-0)
T1. Boston College 1-0 (1-0)
T1. Georgia Tech 1-0 (1-1)
T9. Virginia 0-0 (0-0)
T9. Virginia Tech 0-0 (0-0)
T11. Louisville 0-1 (1-1)
T11. Florida State 0-1 (0-1)
T13. Duke 0-2 (0-2)
T13. Wake Forest 0-2 (0-2)
T13. Syracuse 0-2 (0-2)
This story was originally published September 20, 2020 at 12:52 AM with the headline "NC State’s accidental QB Hockman makes most of his chance, even if it’s the only one."
