NC State returns 17 starters from last year’s 9–3 squad, 10 on the defense alone. The Wolfpack led the ACC in opponents’ 3rd down conversion percentage (29%) and ranked among the Top 31 teams in the FBS in the four major defensive categories. And, they return three 1st team All-ACC defenders and a 3400-yard quarterback.
This could be the year the Wolfpack brings an ACC Championship home to Raleigh.
NC State
Defense
Those 10 starters are spread out over all three levels of the defense, and the three All-ACC performers are:
NT Cory Durden: 31 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss.
LB Drake Thomas: 99 tackles, 6 sacks, and 13.5 tackles for loss. He also intercepted 3 passes and broke up two.
Safety Tanner Ingle: 82 tackles, 1 INT.
Other returning Wolfpack starters include:
CB Derek Pitts: 43 tackles, 2 INTs, and 2.5 TFLs. He also broke up 6 passes.
NB Tyler Baker-Williams: 32 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 tackles for loss, and broke up four passes.
CB Shyheim Battle: 2 INTs, made 28 tackles, and 1 tackle for loss. He broke up 6 passes.
DE Savion Jackson: 23 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
LB Isaiah Moore: 43 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 sack, 3 PBUs.
SS Jakeem Harris: 38 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TFL, and 2 pass breakups.
LB Payton Wilson: 2 tackles; 1.5 TFLs, and 1 sack.
Another projected starter at DE is Davin Vann, who recorded 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and broke up 3 passes.
This unit allowed only one opponent (Wake Forest) to convert over 50% on 3rd down.
In the 27–21 win over Clemson, the Wolfpack held the Tigers to just 2 of 11 (18%) on 3rd down conversions.
Offense (and Stellar QB Play)
The Wolfpack offense scored 33 points per game in 2021 and is led by QB Devin Leary. He ranked in the top 15 in the FBS in passing at 286 yards per game. For the season, Leary threw for 3433 yards, 35 TDs, and 5 INTs (431 pass attempts). He completed 65% of his passes.
Going into this season, Leary is rated as the best quarterback in the ACC and the #4 QB in the country by Pro Football Network.
Leary posted five games of over 300 yards passing, including three in a row. Over that three-game stretch, he threw 10 TD passes and only 1 INT.
In a 45–42 loss at Wake Forest, Leary threw for 408 yards, 4 TDs, and 2 INTs.
He had five games with 4 passing touchdowns, including a 27–21 win over Clemson.
Leary went 6 weeks without throwing an INT, and he threw 18 touchdowns over that span. He also posted three games with over 70% pass completion percentage.
Leary has dependable targets to throw to in WR Thayer Thomas (60 catches, 802 yards, 6 TDs) and WR Devin Carter(31 catches, 556 yards, and 6 TDs).
And they have three starters returning on the offensive line.
Can NC State Win the ACC Title?
This is the most experienced Wolfpack team in quite a while. The schedule is challenging though, with road games at Clemson, Louisville, and North Carolina.
But, if they can get better on 3rd down conversions (only 40% in 2021) and keep Leary upright and healthy, the Wolfpack will score a lot of points, and the defense will hold opponents at bay to win games and an Atlantic division title, and possibly an ACC championship.
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