Manny Stocker leading Pitt backup quarterback competition per Pat Narduzzi

We all know that, barring some sort of injury or disaster, Nathan Peterman will be the starting quarterback for the Pitt football team this fall. But with the departure of former starter and last year's backup Chad Voytik, the Panthers are looking for a backup.

Leading the way so far? According to head coach Pat Narduzzi, who spoke recently after a closed scrimmage, it's redshirt senior Manny Stocker ... at least for now.

"I know Nathan Peterman is the number one quarterback," Narduzzi said. "We're still hunting. I'd say Manny Stocker is ahead right now (in the backup competition) at this point. That's been a daily change, but after today who knows where he is."

Stocker, you might recall, recently moved from wide receiver to quarterback. That doesn't mean the position is new to him, though.

He played quarterback in high school, passing for more than 2,000 yards and accounting for 30 total touchdowns. At NC State, he played five games there as a true freshman in 2012, then redshirted in 2013 before transferring to UT-Martin. While there, he played five games at quarterback in 2014, then transferred to Pitt last year, where he was converted to receiver and played on special teams. Stocker is the only other quarterback on the roster eligible for this season that has any game experience at the position. Pitt has Central Florida transfer Bo Schneider, but he won't be eligible to play until next season.

Granted, we're still a ways off from anything being finalized. There's the remainder of spring practices and then fall training camp where Stocker will have to fend off the rest of the team's quarterback options. But while Shakir Soto moving from defensive end to defensive tackle was arguably the biggest position change announced so far, Stocker's move to quarterback could be just as big if he ends up with the backup job.

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