OUR TAKE: NC State’s 2019 Kay Yow Spring Game Rundown

There was no Ryan Finley in Red or White today in the 2019 Kay Yow Spring Game, but there were 3 quarterbacks battling to be the one that fills his shoes come the Fall.

Redshirt Sophomore Matt McKay, Redshirt Freshman Devin Leary, and Redshirt Sophomore Bailey Hockman all got their reps.

To the shock of no one, McKay got the nod out of the gate. He has been with the program longer than anyone else, and enters this QB competition with an edge due to his experience. While he started off a little choppy, McKay finished strong. He completed 14 of his 24 pass attempts for 182 yards and a touchdown (14-yarder to Cary Angeline), and rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown. McKay was the most consistent and the most composed.

Leary flashed his potential today. He has a canon for an arm. Leary was 12 of 23 for 104 yards, with a touchdown (3-yarder to Thayer Thomas) and an interception (Brock Miller).

Hockman also flashed his ability make plays, and showed he could be effective throwing on the run. He finished the game completing 12 of 23 for 134 yards and a touchdown (61-yarder to Max Fisher).

Even though the biggest question surrounding this team is who the signal caller will be, the pressure on the QB room was lowered a little bit today with the explosion of Freshman Zonovan “BAM” Knight.

Knight was the MVP of the Spring Game, and it wasn’t even close. Gallaspy and Person were a good duo last year, but neither of them possessed the breakaway speed of Nyheim Hines. Knight does. He finished the game with 17 rushes for 139 yards and a touchdown (73-yarder), and also picked up 3 receptions for 26 yards.

There is 0% chance Knight redshirts in the Fall. He will feature prominently in the Wolfpack rush attack.

Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver CJ Riley had sure hands this afternoon, and showed his explosive play ability. Riley finished the game with 6 receptions for 113 yards, with two of his catches going for 35 and 40 yards.

Redshirt Freshman Devin Carter was 2nd on the team with 6 receptions for 60 yards. He looked like Kelvin Harmon on a deep ball, and is a brute for defenders to get to the ground.

Redshirt Sophomore Thayer Thomas didn’t make the trip to Boston College with his baseball teammates to play the Eagles. He had a Spring Game to play in. Thomas finished with 5 receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown, and almost had his hands on a couple of deep balls.

Freshman Keyon Lesane showed that the future is bright at slot receiver, showing off his quick and elusive ability with 4 receptions for 44 yards. With Thomas returning, and Tabari Hines transferring in, I don’t know how much Lesane will be featured in the Fall, but I think the coaches found something special in Lesane.

On the defensive side of the ball, Freshman Defensive Tackle Joshua Harris might have flashed the most in my eyes. He is going to be an extremely successful run stuffer in Raleigh. Harris finished with 7 tackles, which was tied for the team lead.

Sophomore Nickel Tyler Baker Williams had 3 pass breakups.

Sophomore Place Kicker Chris Dunn continues to be one of the Wolfpack fans favorite players on the roster. Not only can he make field goals…he can make them from long distance, splitting the uprights on a 53-yarder this afternoon.

AJ Cole was an excellent punter at NC State, but Redshirt Sophomore Mackenzie Morgan looks like he’s more than capable of filling his shoes. Dude has a boot. Quite a few of Morgan’s punts sailed well over 50 yards, and he was successful on numerous occasions pinning the ball down within the 10-yard line.