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Grant Gibson, Devin Leary are ready to lead the NC State offense

On3 imageby:Ethan McDowell•08/04/22•

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Grant Gibson was a third-team All-ACC center in 2021 for NC State football. (Photo courtesy NC State)

Center Grant Gibson and quarterback Devin Leary are two of the undisputed leaders on NC State’s roster. The two experienced and consistent athletes return this year ready to help steer the Wolfpack offense through the 2022 season. 

Both Gibson and Leary are stars for the program and will likely have NFL scouts enamored with their potential in next year’s NFL Draft. For now, they’re both locked-in heading into the Fall, and both Leary and Gibson spoke about the Wolfpack offense after the first day of camp. 

Gibson shared how nice it was to have an almost-completely healthy team for the first day of practice after an injury-filled 2021 season. 

“We were just all so glad to be back out there on the field with the whole team,” Gibson said. “It’s been a while since we’ve had the whole squad out there.”

NC State returns a total of 17 starters, and that includes linebacker Isaiah Moore, who challenged the offense during Wednesday’s team drills. 

“We had two team drills today, and [Moore] called out every play,” Gibson said. “For me, it’s frustrating, but that’s also going to help me out.”

The center knows that going against the NC State defense will help them continue to improve as a team. NC State’s offense returns a ton of experience as well, including Gibson. In his four seasons playing for the Wolfpack, he has played in 49 games and has not missed a start in the past three years. He also totaled 79 pancakes during those starts. 

Leary sees the returning experience on his side of the ball as a significant advantage for NC State. 

“I think it’s huge for us to have the experience, just because you don’t have to go back and relearn plays, you don’t have to go back and reteach things that we kind of adjusted last year,” Leary said. 

When Gibson is on the field leading the team, Leary said the center helps elevate the entire squad. Gibson, a sixth-year graduate student, picked up third-team All-ACC honors in 2021. 

“Me being able to play behind Grant just makes me that much more comfortable, as well as the entire offensive line,” Leary said.  “He holds them to a high standard, and they expect the same out of him. And with me and him being on the offense, we expect that out of everyone.”

Leary emerged as one of the top signal callers in the nation last year, throwing for 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns and only five interceptions. The media voted him Preseason ACC Player of the Year this summer. 

Gibson said the NC State quarterback carried all of that momentum into Fall camp. 

“He’s doing great,” Gibson said. “He picked up where he left off. He had a great year last year, and just the way that he’s been able to just come out here and play. . .

“Everybody has faith in him. And we know that, if we take care of him and give him time, that he can make those hard throws.”

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