ESPN analyst says NC State football is Atlantic Division contender
Former Clemson offensive lineman and Fayetteville, N.C., native Eric Mac Lain is on record thinking that his alma mater will win the ACC’s Atlantic Division. However, if there is a team that will prove Mac Lain wrong, he believes that will be NC State football.
During a recent appearance on the McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning radio show, featuring ESPN analysts and former SEC football standouts Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic, Mac Lain explained why.
“On the Atlantic side, I love NC State, I really do,” Mac Lain said. “I think on October 1 when those two (NC State and Clemson) play in Death Valley, it’s going to be fireworks. They have so much coming back. Devin Leary is I think the best quarterback in the ACC, between him and (Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke). Going to be fighting for a national spot.
“I expect a Kenny Pickett-like explosion from Devin Leary. 4,000-plus yards, 40-plus touchdowns. They could hardly run the ball a year ago, and they had the best run blocker in the league in big Ickey [Ekwonu] and he’s gone. So I don’t think they’re going to be forcing the issue.
“Would not be surprised if he’s throwing the ball 35-plus times a game. And he’s in year three with him as the starter in the same offense with him back. With the responsibility, the ownership that I really expect to see from Devin, he needs to be a coach on the field and then go deliver like he has time and time again. So I really expect good things from him.”
More love for NC State football
Mac Lain is far from alone in having high expectations for Leary and NC State football.
USA Today has the Pack ranked No. 10 in its post-spring top 25.
“It’s fair to include the Wolfpack among the title contenders in the ACC and maybe have expectations for something bigger if everything jells together,’ Erick Smith wrote. “They’re full of experience with the most returning starters in the conference. The defense returns almost its entire starting lineup after finishing in the top 20 in scoring and pass efficiency. There’s one first-team all-conference choice on each level. The offense looks in good hands with Devin Leary is coming off a season where he threw for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns. A running back needs to step forward and the running game overall needs improvement to fulfill the high expectations.”
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach has NC State at No. 7 in his recently updated way-too-early top 25 ranking.
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