N.C. State’s home opening win against William & Mary saw a twist at the quarterback position. Rewind to the Pack’s opening game against South Carolina. Redshirt freshman Russell Wilson, who won the starting job before the season, was knocked unconscious momentarily after his head was slammed against a Gamecock defender’s knee while being tackled, suffering a grade three concussion. Graduate student Daniel Evans, who backed up Wilson until his injury, made the start against the Tribe. But Evans struggled, going 4-11 for just 12 yards with one interception. With 4:50 left in the first half, Coach Tom O’Brien replaced Evans with redshirt junior Harrison Beck. The offense immediately felt the effects.
In only a little more than a half, Beck went 17-25 for 246 yards with one interception and two touchdowns.
After Beck’s performance, O’Brien was asked in the post game press conference if Beck’s performance would be enough to push him over Evans for the starting role at Clemson next week.
“No, Russell [Wilson] will be the quarterback next week,” O’Brien said firmly.
In fact, even though it was only a week after his concussion, O’Brien said Wilson was actually cleared to play in Saturday’s game against the Tribe.
“[Wilson] was cleared to play tonight, but I chose not to play him,” Coach Tom O’Brien said.
O’Brien thought it best not to throw Wilson back into the starting quarterback role again so soon.
“The doctors thought it would make a lot of a difference,” O’Brien said. “The problem is once you have a concussion, if you get another one, it is worse.”
Wilson did make one appearance though — a hold on a kick.
Beck was unconcerned about the decision that leaves him on the bench at Clemson, even after his good performance.
“I’m not concerned about it. I’m just going to prepare and do the best I can,” he said.
Beck said he will take the opportunity to help Wilson be successful. “If I start, I’m going to try to play well, and if I don’t, then I’m going to try to do what I can to help Russell play well,” Beck said. “Whether it is signaling or when he comes off the field, comforting him, telling him everything’s going to be OK when 60,000 fans are screaming, especially down there at Clemson.”
Evans praised Beck for his play and echoed Beck’s feelings about helping whoever has the starting job.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Harrison, coming from fourth or fifth string — to go out and play the way he did today,” Evans said. “Whoever it is on the field, whether it is Russell [Wilson], Mike [Glennon], Daniel [Evans], or Harrison [Beck], the other three guys that are not in are going to do their best to try to help that guy be as successful as possible.”
