The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472609
TRACKING THE PACK JULY/AUGUST 2022 ■ 19 A PERCENTAGE OF EVERY HOME SALE GOES TO SUPPORT ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH AND CARE. McKeeHomesNC.com | 910-672-7296 PROUD TO SUPPORT THE NC STATE WOLFPACK Faye eville | Raleigh | Pinehurst | Wilmington The Wolfpack has been trending in the right direc- tion. Expect more evidence of that this season. It wasn't just a breakthrough victory against Clemson that had the Wolfpack turning heads a season ago. NC State has 13 ACC victories in the past two seasons — the second-highest mark in the league. Yet, the program is still trying to reach its first ACC title game. "They're very motivated," Coach Dave Doeren said of the players. "We have a lot to prove still." — Lindy's Sports, in ranking NC State second in the ACC's Atlantic Division behind Clemson All of the pieces are in place for NC State to chal- lenge for the ACC championship — and potentially a run at the CFB Playoff. The Wolfpack return the most starters (17) of any team in the ACC from a squad that went 9-3 last fall, including quarterback Devin Leary (35 TDs, 5 INTs) and one of the nation's top linebacker units anchored by Payton Wilson and Drake Thomas. — Steven Lassan, Athlon Sports staff writer, in pick - ing NC State to finish second in the Atlantic Division Does Leary belong here? Some numbers suggest he's way too high. He finished behind [TCU's] Max Duggan in passer rating (157) and [Nebraska's] Adrian Martinez in Total QBR (71.9). But look at a few other stats and the case seems solid. Leary finished 2021 with 35 passing touchdowns and just 5 picks, while racking up 3,433 yards through the air. Only three other QBs have done that in the playoff era: Mac Jones [of Alabama], Marcus Mariota [of Oregon] and Cody Kessler [of USC]. Whether Leary ultimately looks more like Jones and Mariota or Duggan and Martinez likely will depend on how well he handles the now lofty expectations facing NC State in 2022. — David M. Hale, ESPN staff writer, in a ranking of the nation's quarterback situations in which NC State's Devin Leary is listed along with two others in the "Heisman waiting room" 17th NC State's finish in the women's team competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June. The Wolfpack amassed 14 points to tie Virginia Tech for 17th place. It was the team's best finish since placing 13th in 2002. QUOTING THE PACK