The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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Making A Name For Himself In 2021, Leary did more than deliver in the clutch. He developed into an elite quarterback. Leary was named a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award after breaking potential NFL Hall of Famer Philip Rivers' 2003 school record for most touchdown passes in a season with 35. Leary completed 283 of 431 passes (65.7) for 3,433 yards and had only 5 in- terceptions. His quarterback efficiency rating of 157.1 was second best in NC State history, and his completion per- centage was third highest. Twenty-seven of his TD passes came against ACC teams, two more than any other conference quarterback. He once threw 228 consecutive passes without an interception, the third-longest streak in school history. No NC State quarterback ever threw 4 or more touchdowns in as many ACC games as Leary did (5) in 2021. Leary became just the third ACC quarterback to throw for at least 3,400 yards and 35 touchdowns passes dur- ing the regular season. The others were the aforementioned Pickett during his Heisman-bid campaign a year ago, and the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston of Florida State. Those numbers are a far cry from the redshirt freshman in 2019 who com- pleted 48.1 percent of his passes in eight games (five starts) for 1,219 yards and 8 touchdowns with 5 picks. "He was young when he first started playing, so he's going to make mistakes," Doeren noted. "All young quarterbacks do. That was kind of normal for that to happen." Leary is in a far better place now. For one, he has enjoyed the same offen- sive coordinator in Tim Beck for three straight years. "He's not having to learn an offense or prove himself to an offensive coach," Doeren noted. Part of being in a different place, how- ever, is a new spotlight. Leary has been the subject of an extensive feature in The Athletic with a headline that proclaimed him "the best QB no one's talking about yet." NC State is doing its part to help raise Leary's profile. A website called Five Best Quarterback Seasons At NC State Since 2000 NC State fifth-year redshirt junior quarterback Devin Leary had a season to remember in 2021. Where does it rank among other Wolfpack signal-callers since 2000? Here are the top five seasons by NC State QBs: 1. Philip Rivers, 2003: NC State finished 8-5 in Rivers' senior season, but that was primarily because a defense full of future NFL talent was in the earliest stages of its development. Rivers completed 348 of 483 passes (72.1 percent) for 4,491 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2003. The completions, accuracy percentage and yards still are school records, as is the QB rating of 170.49. The scoring mark held until Leary broke it last fall. Rivers was seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting and was the ACC Athlete of the Year. 2. Devin Leary, 2021: Going 9-3 as a starter, Leary completed 283 of 431 passes (65.7 percent) for 3,433 yards and a school-record 35 touchdowns with just 5 picks. His QB rating of 157.1 is second best at NC State all-time behind Rivers in 2003. 3. Russell Wilson, 2010: The closest NC State ever came to reaching the ACC Championship Game was in 2010, when Wilson completed 308 of 527 passes for 3,563 yards and 28 touchdowns. He threw for 300-plus yards eight times, one shy of Rivers' record in 2003. Wilson also added 435 yards rushing, the second most by a Wolfpack quarterback since 2000. 4. Ryan Finley, 2018: Future No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Trevor Lawrence from Clemson was beaten out by Finley for first-team All-ACC quarterback honors in 2018. Finley guided the Wolfpack to a 9-3 regular season and Gator Bowl berth by throwing for 3,928 yards, third most for a single season in school history. He had 25 touchdowns passing and tied Wilson in 2010 for the second most 300-yard passing games with eight. Finley's 148.03 passer rating that year is fifth best all-time at NC State. 5. Mike Glennon, 2012: Only one other time besides Rivers in 2003 did a Wolfpack quarterback go over 4,000 yards in a season — when Glennon completed 330 of 564 passes in 2012 for 4,031 yards. Twice he threw for 5 touchdowns in a game, the only NC State quarterback to accomplish that feat multiple times in a year. Glennon's 31 touchdowns that season are tied for third most in a single year. Russell Wilson surpassed 300 yards passing in eight games during the 2010 season, his last year with the Wolfpack before transferring to Wisconsin. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 26 ■ THE WOLFPACKER