Ahead of 2022 season, N.C. State looks to ‘make history’ in San Diego with 10th win
All the attention, and rightfully so, the last few weeks has been on who is coming back for N.C. State.
Quarterback Devin Leary, linebackers Isaiah Moore and Payton Wilson, defensive lineman Cory Durden, the list goes on. So many guys could have moved on but decided to give it one more shot, #RunItBack has become a popular phrase on Twitter.
With so many important players returning for 2022, creating a buzz for next season, it’s almost as if the last game of 2021 is overlooked.
The Wolfpack (9-3) takes on UCLA (8-4) on Dec. 28 in San Diego for the Holiday Bowl.
While some N.C. State fans are already planning for Charlotte, and a possible ACC championship run in 2022, ending 2021 on a bad note could kill some of the momentum created the last few weeks. That’s why members of the team, while excited about the future, are locked in on the present.
“We want to go win,” center Grant Gibson said.
Gibson, a two-time team captain, was one of the players who could have left and made money at the next level. However, thanks to an extra year granted by the NCAA because of COVID, Gibson will return.
He talked about how special the team is going to be next season and how guys are enjoying N.C. State so much they want to play as long as they can. But there is still meat on the bone in 2021. Gibson has made sure his guys haven’t gotten too far ahead of themselves.
“The way that we’ve been getting prepared the past week, we’re not going to take this game lightly,” Gibson said. “We want to go out there and play well and play to win. We understand that this is the last time we get to go out there as a group until next fall.”
Next fall, the defense should have 10 starters back. The offense will return Leary and Gibson for sure. Running back Ricky Person, Jr. has announced he’s leaving for the NFL. Consensus All-American left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is a projected top-10 pick and isn’t expected to return. Running back Zonovan Knight, an All-American kick returner, hasn’t announced his decision yet, but, like Ekwonu, many don’t expect him to come back.
Even without key offensive players, the return of defenders, plus Leary is enough to have fans looking ahead. That’s exactly what UCLA hopes happens next week in California.
Since the regular-season finale against UNC on Nov. 26, the Pack had time off and recently returned to practice to begin bowl prep. In between there was the never-ending flow of social media posts announcing who was coming back. That took a lot of attention away from the upcoming game. Leary suggests the team is as focused as ever.
“Guys are excited to get back to work to get this 10th win,” Leary said. “We’re on a good track right now.”
That 10th win would be a huge accomplishment for this team. Only once in school history has an N.C. State team won double-digit games. Led by Philip Rivers, the 2002 Wolfpack team went 11-3. Head coach Dave Doeren has won nine games three times.
“That’s really important to us,” linebacker Drake Thomas said. “There’s only been one team that’s won more than 10. We want to make history, leave a legacy, because this team is special and it’ll be a special way to end the season.”
Despite all the eyes looking ahead to next season, Gibson wants to make sure they finish this year on a high note.
“We want to finish this year strong,” Gibson said. “We want to do this for the older guys because it’s their last game, but we also want to set ourselves up for next year.”
