Report: Devin Leary confirms return to NC State football

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary, in an interview with David Thompson of the Fayetteville Observer, confirmed that he is returning to NC State football next season.

“I’m going to be at NC State next year,” Leary told Thompson. “I’m going to get to reflect on everything I did this year and continue to get better in the offseason so I can lay it all on the line next season.”

Leary’s return had been anticipated, but his strong season fueled speculation that he might explore entering the NFL Draft.

Leary finished the regular season completing 283 of 431 passes, or 65.7 percent, for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He had a quarterback efficiency rating of 157.0.

Leary broke Philip Rivers’ school record for touchdown passes in a season, and still has the Dec. 28 San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl against UCLA left.

He also already has the sixth most passing yards and completions in a single season at NC State, and with a good bowl performance could shoot up to fourth in both, particularly in yardage where he needs just 120 to tie Russell Wilson’s 2010 campaign.

The 65.7-percent completion percentage is the third highest in a year at NC State with a minimum of 100 pass attempts, and the efficiency only trails Rivers’ staggering 2003 rating of 170.49.

Leary was named one of five finalists for the Jonny Unitas Golden Arm Award and was selected honorable mention in the quarterback-heavy ACC.

In his interview with Thompson, Leary also said that his roommate, redshirt sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson, would be back.

Wilson was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2020 when he led the conference in tackles despite missing two games. He was a contender to be the league’s Defensive Player of the Year this fall, but a shoulder injury in a loss at Mississippi State during the second game of the season would cost him the rest of the year.

The confirmed return of Leary is the latest positive development for NC State football. Five other players have announced they would use their Super Senior year due to the NCAA freezing eligibility in 2020.

First-team All-ACC nose tackle Cory Durden, third-team All-ACC center Grant Gibson, honorable mention All-ACC linebacker Isaiah Moore, cornerback Derrek Pitts Jr. and safety Cyrus Fagan have all confirmed they would come back, joining Leary.

Durden, a redshirt junior, took over and flourished as the starting nose tackle when redshirt freshman C.J. Clark went down with an injury three games into the season. He finished the year with 31 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks, and added seven quarterback hurries.

Moore was honorable mention All-ACC despite missing the final five contests of the year. Before suffering a knee injury, he had 43 tackles, including five for loss and a sack. He added three pass breakups, an interception and seven quarterback hurries.

Fagan was injured in week two of the season. He had nine tackles and a pick at the time of the injury.

Pitts, a transfer addition last offseason from Marshall, will also be back. The redshirt junior had 43 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, in 12 games. He also had two interceptions, six pass breakups (tied for team-high) and a quarterback hurry.

Gibson had 40 pancake blocks at center this fall, his third season as a starter at the position.

Both Moore and Gibson were team captains and considered invaluable leaders on the roster. Leary and Wilson also served in that capacity.

Thus far the only player to announce he was leaving NC State football with eligibility remaining is junior running back Ricky Person Jr. Person walked on Senior Day after announcing he was entering the NFL Draft. He rushed 135 times for 636 yards and five touchdowns and added 28 receptions for 240 yards and two more scores during the regular season.

NC State went 9-3 overall this fall and 6-2 in the ACC to finish with a No. 18 ranking in the College Football Playoff poll, along with both the Associated Press and coaches’ rankings.

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