North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Football Prospectus: Quarterback
6/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 14, 2004
Everything old is new again for NC State this season.
With four seasons as head coach under his belt, Chuck Amato is a seasoned veteran roaming the sidelines. But even though he has firmly established his place in Wolfpack history, the 2004 campaign will mark the first that he can't rely on the sure hands of the top quarterback in ACC history, Philip Rivers.
Having specific assistant coaches to coordinate parts of the game is an established tradition in college football. Yet the Wolfpack will have a defensive coordinator on its staff this season for the first time since 2001, as Reggie Herring took over that role this spring.
When Amato took over the program, he was adamant about re-establishing traditions at NC State - most notably bringing back the traditional "block S" logo. But although that logo will still be the main symbol of Wolfpack football, the squad will sport a new look this season, taking the field in a new style of uniform.
And finally, some old faces will see new light in 2004, as players who made names for themselves in the past among Wolfpack followers hope to be back in action. Three starters from 2002 who missed last season due to injury or other issues hope to be back on the field this season.
QUARTERBACK
Many will look at the 2004 NC State offense and see the glass as half empty. Not only will Rivers now be playing on Sunday afternoons in the NFL, but his primary target, Jerricho Cotchery, is also in the professional ranks. A third hit on the offensive side of the ball is the loss of Sean Locklear, who played guard and tackle last season, earning first-team All-ACC honors before being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks.
But despite the glaring losses, Amato chooses the "half-full" approach when analyzing his 2004 offense. "It will definitely be interesting," he said with a smile. "We certainly lost some quality - no one will be able to come in and fill the shoes of those players. But when you look at us in terms of quantity, we have experience and depth coming back. We've got younger players who learned a great deal from those guys and have been waiting for their turn to shine."
For the first time in five seasons, a new quarterback will start for NC State. Amato is pleased with the potential of the candidates for that position, but has said that he will not name a starter until close to the season opener.
Jay Davis (6-2, 206, *Jr) is the only returning QB with any game experience, seeing action in 10 games over the last two seasons as Rivers' understudy. Although his opportunities were limited, Davis made the most of them, completing nine of his 10 attempts last season with one touchdown and no interceptions. Marcus Stone (6-4, 228, *Fr.) redshirted last season after an All-America prep career. Both had good days and bad days in spring practice, so the battle should be heated in fall camp.
Chris Moore (6-5, 220, *So.) has guided the Wolfpack scout team offense for the past two seasons and could also figure in the plans.
"Jay Davis obviously has the advantage in terms of experience and knowing the system, but all of those guys bring something different to the table," Amato continued. "The competition is what this game is all about. It's a great opportunity - now it's time to see who will step up and respond to the challenge."
Amato is careful not to put too many expectations on the position. "We have to be careful not to compare these guys to how Philip was last year because he was the best quarterback in America. We need to remember how he was four years ago and approach it the same way."
Tomorrow's breakdown will focus on the running backs.
The NC State football prospectus has been prepared by Annabelle Vaughan, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations at NC State.
