Devin Leary discusses high expectations at ACC Kickoff

NC State quarterback Devin Leary met with the media at ACC Kickoff yesterday and discussed a variety of topics including the Wolfpack’s expectation’s for the season, his elite ball security and more. Here’s the transcript from his press conference in Charlotte.

Subscribe to The Wolfpacker today for a limited-time $1 deal for a year of premium access

Q. You heard me ask Coach just about having experience at your position. What changes for you? How much more do you understand about what you guys are doing and maybe what opponents are doing at this point in your career?

DEVIN LEARY: Yeah, I think just first it starts with advancing our offensive system. Now this being my third year in the system, you know, I’ve got to take that next step of getting us out of bad plays to bad looks. I think that all starts with focusing more on defensive ID and bringing along younger guys too. I have a really good grasp of the system, and guys that we need to step up, kind of teaching them and making sure they understand what they need to do, and just in general having the whole offense understand from my perspective. Just being in the system for a good amount of time and just keep collaborating with Coach Beck.

Q. Your left tackle moved on obviously to the NFL. Just what you can say about what he brought to the line and who you see stepping up there to fill in those shoes as you get set for the season.

DEVIN LEARY: Ickey is a tremendous talent. There’s a reason why he went sixth overall. He is an awesome player, but an even better person. I think that really translated our offensive line because those dudes do everything together.

They work out together, train together, eat together, hang out together off the field. I think we have a bunch of dudes that are trying to compete to get that starting spot that Ickey was in, but I know with the other four offensive linemen that we have coming back that they hold that room to a high standard. Whoever it is filling in into that role, they understand that the other four offensive linemen will be counting on them, just as they did on Ickey.

Q. Coach just talked about raising the bar. A lot of eyes on the program this year. If you guys live up to the expectation and take care of business, what would that do long-term for the brand and the recognition of the NC State football program?

DEVIN LEARY: I think it would do a lot for the NC State program. Each and every year we do have high expectations, and you know, a little bit of what we put on film last year, we’re kind of earning that respect a little bit.

For us we know at the end of the day nothing is accomplished until what we do on Saturdays. That’s all that’s going to matter is how we perform on Saturday. If we prepare each and every week like the way we’re supposed to and perform the way we’re supposed to and capable of doing, I think this could raise the standards to this program tremendously.

Q. Devin, you had an interception just once every 86 throws. No other quarterback can come close to that. In addition, Coach talked about you have the ability of to throw in tight windows. Coach talked about the Clemson game. We could mention the win at Pitt when you threw a back shoulder throw with two seconds left. Perfect strike between the defenders.

My question is how much of that accuracy is judgment as to exactly what nanosecond to let the ball go? How much of it is on your receivers? How much of it is just pure accuracy at your part?

DEVIN LEARY: I’ve always prided myself on accuracy. Playing the quarterback position, getting with your receivers and tight ends. It’s all about timing and spacing. I think that really all starts in the offseason.

Making sure that I understand the way that each and every one of my receivers runs their route and how I want them to run it and on top of that, just really being prepared for what defensive look that I’m getting to certain coverages, whether certain routes are going to convert versus certain coverages or not. Just being able to be on the same page as everyone, but also making sure that I’m able to layer that ball into a second window or if I have to zip it in, I’m able to do that and kind of just being able to get every aspect of every throw is something that I work on a ton.

THE MODERATOR: I’m curious for the room to learn this, you are predominantly left-handed, but you learned to throw with your right?

DEVIN LEARY: Yes, sir.

THE MODERATOR: How is it in your childhood that you learned to throw with your right?

DEVIN LEARY: Growing up just from an early age I did everything left-handed. I still write left-handed to this day. My dad is actually a completely left-handed person as well.

He was a pitcher in college.

Growing up he thought I was going to be a left-handed pitcher, and I think I was five years old. I was throwing left-handed my whole life until then. One day I picked up my older brother’s glove and tried out righty, and turned out I could throw a little bit better with my right arm. I just stuck with it.