NC State football getting top-10 mentions in too-early top 25s for 2022

Fresh off a 9-3 regular season that included a 6-2 mark in the ACC, NC State football was looking forward to cementing its status as a team to watch in 2022 when its San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl contest against UCLA was canceled because the Bruins pulled out on the day of the game.

After being awarded the Holiday Bowl trophy, NC State is shifting its focus to the season ahead, and already there are some high expectations on the Wolfpack, although there is not a consensus around the Pack, either.

NC State football is expected to be returning seven players with at least honorable mention All-ACC credits in their careers, and it is likely to bring back 10 starters from its season-opening defense that pitched a 45-0 shutout win over South Florida.

That defense would finish the season second in the ACC in points per game allowed and third in total yards allowed.

Also returning is the Pack’s record-setting quarterback Devin Leary and two-thirds of his starting receiving corps, but the NC State offense must replace its All-American left tackle in Ikem Ekwonu and 1-2 tandem at running back after both junior Ricky Person Jr. and sophomore Zonovan Knight decided to join Ekwonu in turning pro.

First-team All-ACC punter Trenton Gill is also leaving for the NFL.

At least two prominent national writers see enough on paper, though, to consider NC State football a potential top-10 team going into 2022.

Mark Schlabach of ESPN had the Pack at No. 8 in his way-too-early top 25 for next fall.

“The Wolfpack were disappointed about not having the chance to complete just their second 10-win season in 116 years when the Holiday Bowl was canceled because of COVID-19 issues for UCLA,” he wrote. “But NC State will be in prime position to reach that milestone in 2022, and possibly win even more. Quarterback Devin Leary, who threw for 3,433 yards with 35 touchdowns, is returning. Ekwonu, a potential top-10 pick, will be difficult to replace, but the other four starting offensive linemen should return. With linebacker Payton Wilson, cornerback Derrek Pitts Jr. and safety Tanner Ingle already declaring their intentions to stay, the Wolfpack might bring back 14 of their top 15 tacklers. NC State’s nonconference schedule in 2022 (East Carolina, Charleston Southern, Texas Tech and UConn) is more than manageable.”

Stewart Mandel of The Athletic had NC State at No. 9 in his version of the 2022 too-early top 25.

“Devin Leary (3,433 yards, 35 TDs, 5 INTs) could be one of the top quarterbacks in the sport next season,” Mandel opined. “New running backs will need to emerge, with the Wolfpack losing Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person Jr. However, the ACC’s No. 2 defense could bring back nearly the entire starting lineup, led by four All-ACC players: LB Drake Thomas, DT Cory Durden, S Tanner Ingle and LB Payton Wilson, who missed most of this past season.”

On3’s staff did not have NC State in the top 10, but did put the Wolfpack at No. 15 and noted: “How many people realize Devin Leary threw 35 TD passes this season? Forget nationally — he was overlooked in his own state. And the Wolfpack have some talented dudes on defense.”

Two more writers had NC State in the top 20. David Kenyon of Bleacher Report put the Pack at No. 20 in his top 25, while Pat Forde rated the Wolfpack at No. 19, writing: “Dave Doeren has built a consistent winner, with last year’s 9–3 team among his best. Plenty of key parts from that group return, starting with quarterback Devin Leary (3,400 passing yards and 35 touchdowns in 2021). Linebacker Payton Wilson, who missed most of 2021, is coming back as well to anchor the defense. Between Clemson, Wake Forest and NC State, the ACC will tilt heavily toward the Atlantic Division again.”

That’s not to say everyone was on board the NC State football bandwagon. Brett McMurphy of Action Network had the Pack in his “next 25.”

RJ Young of FoxSports.com did not include NC State in his way-too-early top 25. Neither did Bill Bender of Sporting News, who also listed his six teams that just missed, in which the Pack was absent.

NC State football will kick off the 2022 season on Sept. 3 at East Carolina.

——

• Talk about NC State football inside The Wolves’ Den

• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel

• Learn more about our print and digital publication, The Wolfpacker

• Follow us on Twitter: @TheWolfpacker

• Like us on Facebook