5 predictions for NC State football: Devin Leary's Heisman hopes and beating Clemson at home
NC State football had a memorable season in 2021.
The Wolfpack won nine games (10 if you ask most fans). They had one of the best defenses in the ACC and saw their quarterback surge into the national spotlight. They didn't get to play a bowl game because of COVID-19, but enter this season a team on the rise.
So how will things play out in 2022? Here are five bold predictions for NC State football heading into the new season:
A major bowl game is on the horizon
NC State will win at least 10 games this year and be invited to its first major bowl game since the Peach Bowl in 1995.
The Wolfpack returns 17 starters including the preseason ACC Player of the Year in quarterback Devin Leary, and earned a No. 13 ranking in the first Associated Press poll and the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. They could potentially still earn an invite to a New Year's Six bowl game without winning the ACC Atlantic division, but earning their first trip to the ACC championship game would likely ensure a marquee bowl trip.
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Devin Leary misses Heisman invite, barely
There is no arguing with how impressive Devin Leary's stats were in 2021. He threw for a school-record 35 touchdowns, breaking the mark held by Phillip Rivers, and became only the fourth quarterback in the playoff era to throw for 35 touchdowns, five or less interceptions and more than 3,400 yards.
But to earn one of the four invitations to New York for the annual Heisman Trophy ceremony, Leary would have to make a pretty big statistical leap. Last year's winner, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who is returning for his junior year, threw for 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Leary has never looked better during spring and fall camp, and he will certainly put up huge numbers this season, but he won't receive a Heisman invite, although he'll be in the discussion.
NC State ends Clemson's home win streak
Clemson holds the nation's longest-home winning streak at 35 games and for the Wolfpack to win their first ACC title since 1979, they'll likely have to end it when the two teams meet at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 1.
It's been 20 years since NC State last beat Clemson in Death Valley — a 38-6 drubbing behind a career-high 178 yards rushing and two touchdowns from freshman running back T.A. McLendon — but the Wolfpack will get it done.
The game is early enough in the season that the Tigers may still be deciding on a starting quarterback while getting acclimated to new offensive and defensive coordinators. Coming off last year's 27-21 2OT win over Clemson, the Wolfpack know what it takes to win this game and will have an experienced quarterback under center as well as a veteran defense.
Thayer Thomas will break 1,000 yards receiving
In 2021, 30 wide receivers in Division I broke the 1,000-yard mark. Thomas will be on that list in 2022.
Despite not being Leary's primary target last fall, Thomas still had 51 catches for 596 yards and eight touchdowns. Now, with Emeka Emezie off to the NFL, Thomas will see a sharp uptick in production.
Devin Carter may be the team's best deep threat, but Thomas will gobble up yards in the slot and will be Leary's first option on many reads.
NC State will lose a nonconference game
Wolfpack fans won't like this one, but taking the pressure off early with a nonconference loss may be the best thing for a team ranked No. 13 this preseason.
There are two potential landmines on the schedule, starting Week 1 on the road against East Carolina. The Pirates defeated NC State 33-30 the last time these teams met in Greenville and are 2-0 at home against the Wolfpack since 2010.
Week 3 against Texas Tech should also offer a challenge. The Red Raiders are coming off a down season in the Big 12, but new coach Joey McGuire should offer a spark. McGuire recently named a starting quarterback in senior Tyler Shough, who threw for 872 yards and six touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury.
Shough, an Oregon transfer, has 2,575 yards and 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions over 19 games.
David Thompson is an award-winning reporter for the USA Today Network covering NC State and Duke athletics. He can be reached at dthompson1@gannett.com, at 828-231-1747, or on Twitter at @daveth89.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Five bold predictions for North Carolina State football in 2022
