North Carolina State Football could be ACC sleeper in 2021
![Sep 7, 2019; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren (center) leads his team onto the field prior to a game against thw Western Carolina Catamounts at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports Sep 7, 2019; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren (center) leads his team onto the field prior to a game against thw Western Carolina Catamounts at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9c2b3e33cb68fcb0fe4b3784f90aec83f0bae98b980b8b864c639923ba4c5f37.jpg)
NC State football is coming off a strong 2020 season. What will the Wolfpack do for an encore in 2021?
Since his first year as the head coach of NC State football, Dave Doeren, and the Wolfpack have been consistent winners with just one losing season since that first campaign.
Outside of a 4-8 season in 2019, NC State football was won at least 8 games in three of the past four years and while the Wolfpack aren’t going to make many preseason headlines, they are one of the biggest sleepers in the ACC.
The Wolfpack will technically have Devin Leary back at quarterback and even though he wasn’t the full-time starter last year, he led NC State football to some key wins over Pittsburgh and Duke.
Leary threw four touchdowns on the road and led North Carolina State to a victory over 24th-ranked Pittsburgh as he threw four touchdown passes.
This year, Leary is likely to be the starter and after throwing eight touchdowns and one interception a year ago in four games before breaking his leg, which sets the Wolfpack up pretty well for 2021 as Ben Finley is another solid option.
The ACC is filled with quality starting quarterbacks this year led by Sam Howell, but Leary could be right up there as one of the conference’s most productive quarterbacks and who knows, maybe NC State will surprise this year in the ACC.
Here’s a look ahead at North Carolina State football’s offense, defense, as well as win-loss predictions for the 2021 season.