A Vikings Fan’s Viewing Guide to CFB: NC State’s High Hopes
Josh Frey
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Just like the NFL season is fast approaching, we are nearing the day where college football teams will arrive on campus and begin their own preseason work. As a self-proclaimed NFL Draft nerd, I get almost as excited for the college football season as I do for the NFL season. Because of that, I am putting together guides for many of the notable college football programs ahead of the 2022 season. Whether you’re a seasoned college football viewer, or just getting into it for the first time, there is something here for everyone.
We’ve already gone through many of the major contenders in the AAC, and now we are in the thick of it with the ACC. We are approaching the end of our time with the ACC, but today, we’ll get a look at the NC State Wolfpack as they hope to live up to their hopes of a top-10 season.
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Overview
NC State’s 2021 season was one of their best of the 21st century. They had impressive victories over conference opponents like Clemson and UNC. Because of these big wins, the Wolfpack likely would’ve had their first 10-win season since 2002 and just their second in school history if UCLA had not gone through a COVID outbreak right before the Holiday Bowl. Either way, NC State finished 2021 landing at #20 in the AP postseason rankings; their first such ranking since that 2002 season.
Heading into 2022, there are big expectations for this success to continue, and much of that rides on the shoulders of senior QB Devin Leary. The way-too-early preseason rankings on the NCAA website place NC State at #15 for now, but there are hopes of a top-10 campaign this year. Will they be live up to the hype?
2022 NFL Draft Prospects
- OL Ikem Ekwonu, Round 1, Pick 6, Carolina Panthers
- P Trenton Gill, Round 7, Pick 255, Chicago Bears
Notable Transfers In
- WR Darryl Jones (Maryland)
- P Shane McDonough (Towson)
Notable Transfers Out
- EDGE Terrell Dawkins (South Carolina)
- DL Nick Booker-Brown (UTSA)
- CB Mario Love (North Carolina A&T)
- S Khalid Martin (Unknown)
- WR Max Fisher (Unknown)
2022 Schedule
- 9/3 @ East Carolina
- 9/10 vs. Charleston Southern
- 9/17 vs. Texas Tech
- 9/24 vs. UConn
- 10/1 @ Clemson
- 10/8 vs. Florida State
- 10/15 @ Syracuse
- 10/27 vs. Virginia Tech
- 11/5 vs. Wake Forest
- 11/12 vs. Boston College
- 11/19 @ Louisville
- 11/25 @ UNC
Keys to 2022
Devin Leary Becomes a First Round Prospect
Devin Leary is the backbone of the NC State offense. In 2021, he threw for nearly 3500 yards and had 35 TDs compared to just five interceptions. However, NC State is going to need him to do even more in 2022 if they are going to truly compete for an ACC title and a New Year’s Six bowl.
This will come from leading to more victories over top ACC competitors. We talked about the victories over Clemson and UNC last year, but they also had close losses to Miami and Wake Forest. Miami isn’t on the schedule this year, but there’s another matchup with Wake Forest, and Boston College should be better in 2022 with a healthy Phil Jurkovic. Adding these victories to the resume should go a long way towards reaching their ultimate goals, and Leary will need to play well in these games.
Defensive Consistency
Despite a number of injuries across the Wolfpack defense in 2021, NC State still gave up just 19.7 points per game last year. These injuries included linebackers Payton Wilson and Isaiah Moore, defensive tackle C.J. Clark, EDGE Savion Jackson, CB Tyler Tyler Baker-Williams, and safeties Cyrus Fagan and Devan Boykin.
Overall, NC State was able to find some regular success, but 31 points to Miami and 45 to Wake Forest really sealed their fate in those losses. These playera all return for 2022 though, and if they stay healthy, NC State not only has great talent at the top of their defense, but they have proven to have incredible depth with their run last year.
My “Purple Player to Watch”
One major concern for the Minnesota Vikings, as it always seems to be nowadays, is the interior of the offensive line. Garrett Bradbury is in a contract year after not having his fifth-year option picked up by the team. This brings me to my player for Vikings fans to keep an eye on for NC State. It’s the man in the middle of that offensive line, Grant Gibson.
Gibson has been a consistent starter for the Wolfpack at center for three years without any injury concerns to speak of. he’s also built like a bowling ball at 6’4, 300 pounds and plows through interior defensive linemen, opening up holes for his running backs to slither through. Take a look at #50 in black on this play.
The Vikings have lacked this type of rangy blocking, especially in pass protection out of the middle. Bradbury is in a prove-it year with Minnesota before hitting free agency. If he doesn’t “prove it” now, then Minnesota may have a replacement for him in this draft.
