Ahead of the Red Raiders’ matchup against #16 NC State, I look at some of the impact players for the Wolfpack.
Devin Leary:
Leary will be a challenge this week for the Red Raiders, without a doubt. He carries a similar profile as Houston quarterback Clayton Tune but has a much better arm than Tune.
Leary is a four-year starter and has seen a lot of football in the ACC and was projected to be the player of the year in the conference ahead of the season.
I expect Leary to cause problems for the Red Raider defense, but if they are able to contain the deep ball, like East Carolina did earlier in the season, Tim DeRuyter’s defense could slow down the uber-talented Leary.
Jordan Houston:
Houston is the main running back for the Wolfpack but will split reps with a competent backup in Demie Sumo-Karngbaye this weekend.
Houston is the second-leading receiver on the team and along with a resurgence on the ground, he will be a massive weapon for Leary and the NC State offense this weekend.
Thayer Thomas:
Thomas is the leading receiver on the squad and really is the only complete player at the position.
Being around the program for a long time, Thomas is tied for third in school history in touchdown receptions with 21 touchdowns, one coming this season.
Thomas also may cause problems for the Red Raiders’ special teams’ unit on punt return, as Nathaniel Dell did last week.
Isaiah Moore:
Moore is the leader of a very experienced and stout linebacking core.
Playing in the heart of the Wolfpack’s 3-3-5 stack, Moore has recorded six total tackles, one for loss while being effective in the pass rush.
Drake Thomas:
The brother of Thayer, Drake Thomas is another extremely solid linebacker paired up with Moore.
Last season, he was an All-ACC first teamer and this season he is on the Chuck Bednarik award watch list. He is second on the team in tackles with 10 and two for loss with two QB hurries on the season.
Payton Wilson:
Wilson is the final piece to this extremely good linebacking group. He is also on the Bednarik watch list, this year for the second time, and was an All-ACC player in 2020 before an injury cut his 2021 season short.
The heavy-hitter missed the season opener but will play this weekend against the Red Raiders.
Derrek Pitts Jr.:
The last key piece of this defense is graduate corner Derrek Pitts, who is the team leader in tackles with 11 and has found a home nicely in Raleigh.
This is his second year with the Wolfpack as he was last with Marshall and originally with West Virginia in 2018.
Devin Leary:
Leary will be a challenge this week for the Red Raiders, without a doubt. He carries a similar profile as Houston quarterback Clayton Tune but has a much better arm than Tune.
Leary is a four-year starter and has seen a lot of football in the ACC and was projected to be the player of the year in the conference ahead of the season.
I expect Leary to cause problems for the Red Raider defense, but if they are able to contain the deep ball, like East Carolina did earlier in the season, Tim DeRuyter’s defense could slow down the uber-talented Leary.
Jordan Houston:
Houston is the main running back for the Wolfpack but will split reps with a competent backup in Demie Sumo-Karngbaye this weekend.
Houston is the second-leading receiver on the team and along with a resurgence on the ground, he will be a massive weapon for Leary and the NC State offense this weekend.
Thayer Thomas:
Thomas is the leading receiver on the squad and really is the only complete player at the position.
Being around the program for a long time, Thomas is tied for third in school history in touchdown receptions with 21 touchdowns, one coming this season.
Thomas also may cause problems for the Red Raiders’ special teams’ unit on punt return, as Nathaniel Dell did last week.
Isaiah Moore:
Moore is the leader of a very experienced and stout linebacking core.
Playing in the heart of the Wolfpack’s 3-3-5 stack, Moore has recorded six total tackles, one for loss while being effective in the pass rush.
Drake Thomas:
The brother of Thayer, Drake Thomas is another extremely solid linebacker paired up with Moore.
Last season, he was an All-ACC first teamer and this season he is on the Chuck Bednarik award watch list. He is second on the team in tackles with 10 and two for loss with two QB hurries on the season.
Payton Wilson:
Wilson is the final piece to this extremely good linebacking group. He is also on the Bednarik watch list, this year for the second time, and was an All-ACC player in 2020 before an injury cut his 2021 season short.
The heavy-hitter missed the season opener but will play this weekend against the Red Raiders.
Derrek Pitts Jr.:
The last key piece of this defense is graduate corner Derrek Pitts, who is the team leader in tackles with 11 and has found a home nicely in Raleigh.
This is his second year with the Wolfpack as he was last with Marshall and originally with West Virginia in 2018.
