Only one game into the season and N.C. State already has a new starting quarterback.
Harrison Beck will get the nod over Daniel Evans for Saturday’s game against Boston College, coach Tom O’Brien told the media Monday afternoon.
The redshirt sophomore entered the game at the 4:05 mark in the second quarter and remained as quarterback throughout the 25-23 loss.
The Nebraska transfer knew he would get his chance going into the game as O’Brien said he wanted to insert Beck at some point to get experience.
“On [Aug. 27], it was a little different story. You guys were asking me, Dan got the job, and I told you guys, coach said ‘you’ve got to be ready to play.’ And it just so happened tonight that I got the call, and I had to go in there,” Beck said, after Saturday’s game.
During Monday’s press conference, O’Brien would not comment on whether Evans would play during Saturday’s game.
Senior tight end Marcus Stone has been in Evans’ position before. As a starting quarterback last season, he lost the job to Evans. Stone said he went to Evans and talked to him about the situation following the Central Florida game.
“I’ve been in his shoes before,” Stone said, after Saturday’s game. “I personally know how it feels — just come back every week ready to go, because you never know.”
Beck, who was unavailable to the media during Monday’s weekly press conference, went 17-of-28 for 207 yards, two touchdowns and only one interception. After Saturday’s game, O’Brien was not ready to name a starter for Boston College until after his coaches watched video of the game.
“Looking at the game, Beck is definitely going to start Saturday,” O’Brien said.
The playing time for Beck was the first time he had seen significant minutes at the collegiate level.
“I haven’t played an extended amount of time like this since high school. I had a little stint at Nebraska for a while, but like I said, it’s a football game. I just go in there and play football,” Beck said, following the game.
O’Brien said Beck provided a positive change and made much better decisions than the team had seen before.
“He was a much better decision-maker than we had seen previously,” O’Brien said. “He distributed the ball where he was supposed to, controlled the offense a little better. He made some nice throws — the ball was on the money, pretty accurate.”
Sports Editor Clark Leonard contributed to this story.
