PACKINSIDER INTERVIEW: Stocker’s Decision Seems Prophetic in Hindsight

When Manny Stocker (3-Star QB) committed to NC State last summer, he might have thought that a redshirt was in the picture.  He was coming into a program with 3 quarterbacks already in place.  With that possibility out there, Stocker still couldn’t wait to get to Raleigh and get into the mix, and enrolled early this past January.

“I wanted to do early enrollment so that I could get a feel for how things worked before the season hit,” said Stocker.  ”Things can get real hectic when the season starts.  I wanted to get here and learn the plays early.  I wanted to learn the system and figure out what it looked like to be a NC State football player.”

“The way they treated me stood out.  Out of all the schools that offered me, NC State’s recruiting process was much more critical.  They were real serious about their process,” said Stocker.  ”They knew what they wanted.  I came to their camp, but they weren’t quick to offer.  It was important to them to see how I handled myself.  They wanted to see what type of person I was.”

Coach O’Brien also runs a style of offense that made Stocker feel comfortable that the transition to the next level could be smooth.

“I was a pro-style quarterback in high school. Every thing was under center or in the gun,” said Stocker.  ”It was a big reason I came here.  I was familiar with lot of the terminology when I showed up on campus.”

His goal now is to continue to work hard at learning the plays and getting comfortable here in Raleigh, and current NC State quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Tyler Brosius have made that easier for him.

“I’ve learned a lot from Glennon and Brosius.  They have shown me a lot,” said Stocker.  ”They guided my hand through spring ball so that I didn’t fall off track.”

In hindsight, it seems like Stocker’s decision to enroll early was a brilliant decision, and I’m sure the coaching staff would agree.  When he made that decision, it was unknown at the time that RS Freshman quarterback Brian Taylor would not be returning to the team.  Now he heads into this summer sitting 3rd on the depth chart.

Stocker has big shoes to fill this upcoming season, because he will be donning the #16 on his jersey, which was recently worn by one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play at NC State, current Seattle Seahawk Russell Wilson.  When you watch video below, you might be surprised to see some similarities between the two quarterbacks.  Stocker possesses serious athleticism at his position, running a 4.58 40-yard dash, and stands a tad bit bigger than Wilson, measured at 6-3, 200.

As a senior, Stocker passed for nearly 2,000 yards with 20 touchdowns and another 10 rushing touchdowns