RALEIGH, N.C. -- Nebraska transfer Harrison Beck will start
at quarterback for North Carolina State this week at Boston
College, getting the nod Monday from coach Tom O'Brien for leading
a second-half rally against Central Florida last week.
"Doing some of the things he did was impressive," O'Brien
said. "He deserves this start right now. We certainly can't ever
go back to playing the way we played the first half. We have to
continue on and build upon the second half and get better from
there."
Beck completed 17 of 28 passes for 207 yards with two touchdowns
in the Wolfpack's 25-23 loss to Central Florida. NC State trailed
25-3 at halftime before Beck led a rally that ultimately fell
short.
Beck and Daniel Evans battled throughout the preseason for the
job, and it wasn't until five days before the opener that Evans was
awarded the starting job.
But Evans, who started the final nine games of last season, was
ineffective. His first series ended when he threw an interception
that set up a UCF field goal, and two series later he was sacked in
the end zone for a safety.
"We made an evaluation and we thought Daniel had done the best
job in preseason camp, which he did. There are some guys that play
better in games, and you don't know about that until you put them
in games," O'Brien said.
Beck relieved Evans with about 4 minutes left in the first half
and the Wolfpack down 22-3.
He threw fourth-quarter touchdown passes covering 6 yards to Pat
Bedics and 14 yards to Donald Bowens, and had the Wolfpack inside
UCF territory in the closing seconds before his last-gasp pass was
intercepted.
"I think he was a much better decision-maker than we had seen
previously, distributed the ball where it was supposed to go,
controlled the offense a little better and made some nice throws,"
O'Brien said. "The ball was on the money."
Tight end Marcus Stone understands how both players feel. He
started last season at quarterback, but lost the job and switched
positions.
"I haven't said much, because I know both of them are going
through a lot mentally, because I was in their shoes," Stone said.
"I've let both of them know that if you need somebody to talk to
that's been in your shoes, I'm here if you need me, you guys have
got my number, and I left it at that."