North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Evans Gets QB Nod
8/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
BY TONY HAYNES
On Monday, the redshirt junior signal caller from
Emerging from a long and competitive battle with Harrison Beck and Justin Burke, Evans was named the Pack’s starting quarterback for Saturday night’s 2007 season opener against
“I absolutely felt that I was being challenged and pushed everyday,” Evans said. “Harrison and Justin both did a great job and they’re definitely both capable quarterbacks in the ACC. It’s definitely a relief to have that off your back. Now it’s just a matter of getting prepared for
Heading into spring and fall workouts, Evans clearly had an experience edge after starting NC State’s last nine games in 2006. Beck, who sat out last season after transferring from
Late in fall camp, it became a two-horse race between Evans and Beck. O’Brien informed the two quarterbacks of his decision in a meeting on Monday morning.
“I think it was close,” O’Brien said of the competition for the starting spot. “It wasn’t one of those easy decisions that we had to make. Dana Bible and I sat down and spent probably a good day and a half talking this thing out.”
Bible, NC State’s offensive coordinator, watched Evans complete 62 percent of his passes in four scrimmages during fall camp, and 65 percent in scrimmages held during the spring. In nine starts last season, Evans completed 53 percent of his throws for 1,843 yards, six touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
“I feel like I’m better at recognizing defensive coverages just through the film work we’ve done,” Evans said. “When we go out on the field, I feel like I know what I’m looking at when I’m back there. I feel like I can see what’s going on and I can make pretty quick decisions. I guess in any line of work when you’re thinking too much things don’t come as instinctively and you’re not going to do as well. I think I’ll be a better quarterback because of that this year.”
Opposing defenses will probably force Evans to prove himself once again when the season starts. Not wanting to be trampled in the running game by backs Toney
And Beck will be waiting in the wings if that doesn’t happen.
“As I told [Evans], he shouldn’t be looking over his shoulder,” O’Brien said. “He has to go and play and do the best he can. He understands that he has to perform and perform well to keep his job. As I said to
Beck, a native of
“I just went into the meeting with an open mind and I think Dan did to,” said Beck. “It really wasn’t all that disappointing for me because he did say Dan’s the starter but he also said that I’ll get a chance to play in the game. That’s all I ask for is just the opportunity at some point to do that.”
Neal is the Deal: In a strange twist, both of the Wolfpack’s starting cornerbacks on Saturday night carry the same last name. Junior Levin Neal will start on one side, while junior J.C. Neal will be on the other.
Pressley’s Pain: NC State’s best defensive lineman, senior tackle DeMario Pressley, is listed as questionable for the opener with an elbow strain. O’Brien said the injury occurred during a scrimmage earlier in the fall.
“Right now I think he’s out,” O’Brien said. “He thinks he has a chance to play. We’ll see.”
Kicking Game: Overshadowed by Monday’s quarterback announcement, but certainly not forgotten, was the news that Steven Hauschka will be NC State’s starting placekicker. A former soccer player at
