Seven thoughts and observations from NC State's ACC media day

NC State head coach Dave Doeren, star quarterback Devin Leary and all-ACC linebackers Isaiah Moore and Drake Thomas all made the trip to Charlotte for the 2022 ACC kickoff. The four members of the Wolfpack all spent extensive time with the media as they discussed expectations for this year, NIL and much more. 

Here are The Wolfpacker’s seven thoughts and observations from ACC Media Day 

1) The expectations for this year are high, and NC State is embracing them

It’s clear that the Wolfpack is not shying away from the expectations for this year. The athletes carried the combination of humbleness  and confidence you can see in a team that is focussed on living up to the hype that this offseason produced. 

“For us we know at the end of the day nothing is accomplished until what we do on Saturdays,” Leary said during his press conference. “That’s all that’s going to matter is how we perform on Saturday. If we prepare each and every week like the way we’re supposed to and perform the way we’re supposed to and capable of doing, I think this could raise the standards to this program tremendously.”

2) Last year’s bowl game is a motivating factor for this team

UCLA withdrew from the Holiday Bowl the day of the contest due to pandemic-related concerns. The Bruins did so in a way that left NC State without an opportunity to find another opponent and win a historic tenth game. Doeren discussed the cancellation during media day. 

“We had a chance to do something that’s been done one time in 135 years at a school, and we felt like that opportunity wasn’t presented for the wrong reasons,” Doeren said. “I’m not saying that COVID was a bad reason. We understand that COVID is real, and we felt for the kids on their team who had it. It just wasn’t communicated to us in a timely fashion, and it wasn’t handled professionally.”

3) There’s a long way to go until we know the future of the ACC

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips made it very clear that the ACC is not rushing into any conference realignment decisions. He wants to maintain a culture of collegiate athletics that is fair to all sports, not just football and basketball. Phillips maintained throughout the press conference that all options are still on the table, and they are working closely with ESPN on how to address the future of college sports. 

“All neighborhoods need to be healthy,” Phillips said. “It’s not good for college athletics if we’re not, and, again, you heard my reference earlier. We understand where those two leagues are. No one is ignoring that. We’re all trying to find ways to close that gap.”

4) The linebacker core is healthy, and it could be a special group

Doeren confirmed during his press conference that Payton Wilson is 100 percent healthy, and he will join Isaiah Moore and Drake Thomas, who are coming off of all-ACC years, in a linebacker room that should be among the nations best. Moore, who also dealt with an injury last year, talked about how it feels to be healthy and back on the field at NC State.

He credited NC State’s athletic training staff, his family and teammates with helping him get back to this point.

“It’s a surreal feeling man,” Moore said. “All of the work that I put in to get my body to the way it is now, shout out to our training staff for putting me in position to get healthy and to be great. My support cast around me, my family, my brothers, my brothers on the team. They’ve been great man. I’m especially ready to be back with them.”

5) I asked about Micah Crowell’s position switch to running back

During Doeren’s second press conference, I asked how Micah Crowell is doing with his transition from receiver to running back. Doeren told me we’ll find out soon. 

“He got switched in the spring, and he’s learning it,” Doeren said. “The strength coaches said he had a good summer, so find out this fall how he is.”

6) Drake Thomas is ready to make a statement to start the year

The All-ACC linebacker led the team in interceptions and tackles last year. He said he wants to make a statement week one against ECU “for sure” but also emphasized the next game is always the most important one regardless of who the team is up against. 

“It’s going to be so much fun to get back out there with the guys and compete,” Thomas said. “It kind of got taken away from a lot of them last year, so just being able to get back out there and compete with those guys, I just really can’t wait.”

Greenville has been a challenging road trip in the past, but Thomas said the team just needs to focus on being the best version of themselves and not listen to the hype in order to avoid any pitfalls. 

7) Leary is excited about the roster’s receivers, including on redshirt freshman

Along with receivers Porter Rooks, Daryl Jones, Anthony Smith and Keyon Lesane, Julian Gray garnered praise from Leary during his media availability. 

“Julian Gray is an outstanding talent,” Leary said. “He’s a special player, a very special player and, to see the way that he can perform at such a young age is, I mean, it’s going to be exciting to see him grow and play.”