The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1487679
TRACKING THE PACK 18 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER NC State star quarterback Devin Leary has entered the transfer portal for his final year of college eligibility. The Wolfpack signal-caller started the first six games of the season before sur- gery on a partially torn pectoral muscle forced him to miss the rest of the year. Leary confirmed the news with a tweet on Dec. 5, the first day of the transfer portal window. Leary was the 2022 ACC Preseason Player of the Year after a banner 2021 campaign in which he led the Wolf- pack to a 9-3 season by throwing for a school-record 35 touchdowns while only tossing 5 picks. He had a 65.7 per- cent completion rate for 3,433 yards. Before his injury, Leary threw for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding 3 more scores on the ground. At the time of his injury, Leary was noncommittal about his future, not- ing, "I can't make any type of decision without being healthy, without know- ing when I'm going to throw again." Leary's rehab was expected to take four to six months after having surgery in October. In an interview with The Wolfpacker prior to the 2022 season, head coach Dave Doeren elaborated on what makes Leary a special quarterback, specifically in the final minutes of games. "I've never had one that's as good as he is in that situation, I just haven't," Doeren said. "It's nice to see it. Been around some guys that do it every now and then, but not to the degree that he's been able to do it. "To me, that's what separates him from everybody else out there. He's re- ally good at the end of the half, and he has been for multiple years. Pretty spe- cial." Leary's transfer signals a new era un- der center for NC State. The program's returning quarterback room will likely consist of current true freshman MJ Morris and third-year redshirt fresh- man Ben Finley. Morris went 2-1 as a starter and com- pleted 52 of 86 passes for 648 yards and 7 touchdowns with an interception over five games. He also rushed for 88 yards and a score. Finley started and won the regular- season finale over UNC. He finished the year 43-of-75 passing for 472 yards and 3 scores with an interception. The Wolfpack is also set to sign On3 Consensus three-star quarterback Lex Thomas from Wake Forest (N.C.) Heri- tage High. Thomas, the younger brother of NC State super senior receiver Thayer Thomas and fourth-year junior line- backer Drake Thomas, completed 40 of 59 passes for 538 yards and 3 scores and also rushed for 3 touchdowns in four games before suffering a season-ending injury. Also choosing to enter the transfer portal was fifth-year redshirt junior re- ceiver Jasiah Provillon, who telegraphed his decision when he chose to walk on Senior Day. Provillon caught a pair of passes in his Wolfpack career for 58 yards. Third-year redshirt freshman defen- sive lineman Claude Larkins also went into the portal on Dec. 5, but he with- drew the next day. Leary's decision to transfer was not the only significant development for the NC State offense. Coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tim Beck landed the head coaching position at Coastal Carolina on Dec. 4. Beck was hired after previous Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell accepted an offer at Liberty to replace Hugh Freeze, who took the vacant Au- burn position. Beck had been the Wolf- pack's offensive coordinator and quar- terbacks coach since the 2020 season. In addition to hiring Beck's replace- ment, NC State is expected to be active in the portal seeking additions. At least eight players who were in the portal on Dec. 5 confirmed offers from the Wolf- pack. One of the more intriguing among those eight is Louisville sophomore running back Trevion Cooley. The for- mer Knightdale (N.C.) High standout is the older brother of NC State defensive back commit Tamarcus Cooley. The older Cooley picked Louisville over NC State, Duke and South Caro- lina, and impressed as a true freshman for the Cardinals by rushing 86 times for 431 yards and a touchdown and adding 12 receptions for 173 yards and 2 scores. This past fall, Cooley had 59 carries for 278 yards and a pair of TDs, and he also added 9 receptions for 66 yards and a score. The NCAA transfer portal window is open through Jan. 18. A second, shorter opportunity is presented to football players on May 1-15. Redshirt junior quarterback Devin Leary announced his decision to transfer Dec. 5. He has one year of eligibility remaining and is one of six starting quarterbacks from the ACC to enter the transfer portal. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP Devin Leary Says Farewell To NC State