N.C. State Wolfpack
Last year: 4-8 (1-7 ACC) Best win: vs. Syracuse, 16-10 Worst loss: at Georgia Tech, 28-26
Coach: Dave Doeren (eighth year, 47-42, 70-46 career)
Starters returning: 18 (10 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Zonovan Knight. As a true freshman, Knight recorded 745 yards (5.5 ypc) and five touchdowns on 136 carries and added seven catches for 45 yards.
Defensive player to watch: LB Louis Acceus. As a junior, Acceus played in just eight games before an injury forced him out, but he racked up 50 tackles, seven for losses, and 4.5 sacks during his time on the field. He may have finished in the team lead for tackles if he had played all 12 games.
Schedule: bye, vs. Wake Forest, at Virginia Tech, at Pittsburgh, at Virginia, vs. Duke, at North Carolina, bye, vs. Miami, vs. Florida State, vs. Liberty, at Syracuse, vs. Georgia Tech.
Win-loss prediction: 4-7 or 5-6. The nonconference game against Liberty is winnable, and the last two games are the easiest ACC contests probably, but man, it could be a slug for the Wolfpack to get there with a chance at attaining a winning record. A victory against Wake is important right off the bat, because what follows is a three-game trip to VT, Pitt, and UVa, before a four-game stretch that includes UNC and FSU, and possibly improved Duke and Miami squads. The 'Pack, however, avoided Notre Dame and Clemson, and I'm not sure any other conference team got that lucky. Doren's guys fell on hard times last season. After five consecutive winning years and back-to-back nine-victory campaigns, seven of State's eight losses came by at least 14 points, several by much more, and the team finished with six straight defeats. Injuries probably played a large role, but Doeren couldn't get it done. He's hoping Devin Leary takes a step forward at QB. Leary is a redshirt sophomore who started the final five games in 2019 and played in eight. The former two-time New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year and four-star recruit completed just 48.1 percent of his passes -- so he must get more accurate -- for 1,219 yards, but he did have more TDs (eight) than INTs (five). If Leary can't progress, one of the other QBs from last season, Bailey Hockman, could get another shot, and Doeren also has redshirt freshman Ty Evans, or true freshman Ben Finley, the brother of Ryan Finley, who is one of the better QBs in school history and trying to make it in the NFL now. The OL returns four starters plus a pair of tackles who started two years ago and missed all of last season, so that bodes well for the running game. On defense, in addition to Acceus, redshirt sophomore LB Payton Wilson led the unit in tackles as a redshirt freshman despite starting only one game, with 69 tackles, five for losses, three breakups, and an INT. Junior safety Tanner Ingle collected 68 tackles, five for losses, half a sack, two QB pressures, a forced fumble, and four breakup. Despite a lot of success before 2019, I think the fan base is a little restless with Doeren. Still, he probably will be safe this year due to pandemic. The team could be better, but it's not a sure thing.
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