MORE HEADLINES - Camp video: The quarterbacks in action | Slideshow: Photos from Tuesday's practice | Recruits react to Pitt's throwback uniforms | Training camp report; What happened in Tuesday's practice?
Manny Stocker has had quite the journey. From N.C. State in 2012 to two years at Tennessee-Martin to the last two seasons at Pitt, Stocker has been around, and now he's in position to be the Panthers' backup quarterback.
Stocker met the media on Tuesday and talked about reuniting with Matt Canada, the impact of his brother Jay's decision to come to Pitt and more.
Twice so far, the coaches have indicated that you’re a little ahead in the backup quarterback derby; do you see that happening?
It’s a grind every day. I try to do my best and worry about what I can control every day and try to do the best I can to see what I can do for this team.
How has Coach Canada changed from when you knew him in the past?
He hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still that hard coach who’s going to be on you. He’s going to do everything he can to make you a better player. He’s going to do everything for this team and I’m happy to have a chance to work with him again.
When did you move to quarterback?
It was this January that I moved. So after playing receiver last year, I talked to Narduzzi and Narduzzi told me that I was moving back to quarterback and giving it a shot there.
So three schools and two positions; it’s been quite a journey for you in college.
Yeah, it has been. It’s been a long journey. College football, dealing with everything that comes with college football, but it’s been a long, happy journey. I’ve had a lot of people in my corner since I started college, and I’m just happy that I’m here now playing for Pitt.
If Jay hadn’t come to Pitt, would you still be here?
I know there’s a lot that goes into it. I’ve been recruited by Pitt out of high school so I’ve always looked at them. Pitt is a great place. It’s not too far from my home. So it’s a good school to be at.
Wide receiver to quarterback - was it like riding a bike?
I’ve played quarterback my whole life. Receiver - I could run a little bit, so receiver was a little hard, you know, coming out of breaks and cutting and stuff like that. But making the switch to quarterback was a fun move for me. I know how to control the game from there and it was a good move.
Is there something about this offense that makes it more of a fit for you?
I don’t think it’s the offense, in particular; I feel like I could fit in a lot of offenses. But this offense, in particular, is good for any quarterback. It fits any quarterback, any system, anywhere you want to play. It’s pretty good.
You’re pretty familiar with Coach Canada’s system but it’s been a couple years. Have there been many changes?
Coach Canada, he has a good system. We’ve been working at it every day. We came from what it was last year to this year so, you know, learning new plays and stuff like that. But it’s an adjustment that everybody has made and I’m happy where we’re going.
The book on you is that you move around a lot and you’re a mobile quarterback. Do they have some things built into the playbook for you?
Not yet, necessarily. We’re all working at the playbook, every play. Every play, whether it’s a pass or a run, whatever he calls, all the quarterbacks are working at the same plays, so it’s not necessarily anything designed.
Being as athletic as you are, do you have to sometimes curb the desire to leave the pocket too quick?
As of right now, no. I’m just trying to go through my reads and do everything I can. I have a red jersey on, so I can’t really run as much, but I just try to go through my reads and make the right decision and throw the ball on time and do what I can for this team.
Is the environment of camp even more difficult for a guy like you whose primary ability is your running ability, and you can’t do it? Is it hard for you to stand out?
It’s not too hard. To stand out, yes; I feel like it’s hard for any quarterback to stand out. But I don’t necessarily think it takes back from my abilities or what I can do, because I feel like, if I can operate in a system with a red jersey just like any other quarterback, then it makes me suitable for that position.
What do you feel like you have to do to separate yourself in this position battle over the next couple of weeks?
I have to just control what I can control: make smart decisions, don’t turn the ball over and just be comfortable in the pocket and control what I can control.
Going back to the decision to come here, were you already thinking about leaving UT-Martin, or did that grow when Jay came here?
My brother played a big part. He loved the University of Pittsburgh and I had looked at it before in high school. I just loved where the program was going. And I was part of his decision, too, to come here, so me and my family, we worked it out with him and we were happy that were just able to get this opportunity to play at Pittsburgh.
Are you roommates?
No. I wish we were, but he was a freshman coming in, so he had to live in the dorms. I tried to room with him but he had to do the freshman protocol so it didn’t work out like I wanted it to.
When Coach Narduzzi came to you in January about moving to quarterback, were you excited about the move?
Yeah, I was very excited. Because quarterback is what I’m comfortable at. I’ve played it throughout college and I’ve played it throughout high school; basically my whole life. So I was comfortable with playing quarterback. When he talked to me to make that move, I was like, ‘Perfect.’ I was willing to do whatever I could for the team, and I feel like he felt that was the best spot for me.
What was your take on the uniforms?
I loved them. They have an old-school feel but a nice college feel to them, so I really love the uniforms and I think everyone’s going to be excited when we open them up.
What did you gain from your experience at N.C. State?
I gained a lot of patience, I would say. Being at N.C. State - that’s where I started out at college - a lot of patience, a lot of things like that. That’s probably what I gained the most.
