The 2021 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolfpack played their home games at Carter–Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina and competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by ninth-year head coach Dave Doeren.
2021 NC State Wolfpack football | |
---|---|
Holiday Bowl, vs. UCLA, Canceled | |
Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
Atlantic Division | |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 19 |
AP | No. 20 |
Record | 9–3 (6–2 ACC) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Tim Beck (2nd season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread option |
Defensive coordinator | Tony Gibson (3rd season) |
Base defense | 3–3–5 |
Home stadium | Carter–Finley Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Atlantic Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 15 Wake Forest xy | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 20 NC State | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 14 Clemson | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisville | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida State | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Syracuse | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boston College | 2 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coastal Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 13 Pittsburgh xy$ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miami (FL) | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia Tech | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Carolina | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia Tech | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duke | 0 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Pittsburgh 45, Wake Forest 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Wolfpack finished their regular season with a 9–3 overall record, and accepted a bid to the Holiday Bowl, where they were due to face UCLA. Hours before game time on December 28, UCLA withdrew from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues, and the bowl was canceled.[1][2] NC State was awarded the Holiday Bowl trophy after the cancelation and considers the game forfeited, giving the program its second (after 2002) 10-win season—the 10th win (for the Holiday Bowl) is claimed by NC State and not officially recognized by the NCAA and ACC.[3] NC State beat Clemson for the first time since 2011.
Schedule
editNC State announced its 2021 football schedule on January 28, 2021.[4]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 2 | 7:30 p.m. | South Florida* | ACCN | W 45–0 | 52,633 | ||
September 11 | 7:00 p.m. | at Mississippi State* | ESPN2 | L 10–24 | 45,834 | ||
September 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Furman* |
| ACCRSN | W 45–7 | 56,919 | |
September 25 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 9 Clemson |
| ESPN | W 27–21 2OT | 56,919 | |
October 2 | 6:00 p.m. | Louisiana Tech* | No. 23 |
| ACCNX/ESPN+ | W 34–27 | 51,064 |
October 16 | 7:30 p.m. | at Boston College | No. 22 | ACCN | W 33–7 | 40,349 | |
October 23 | 7:30 p.m. | at Miami | No. 18 | ESPN2 | L 30–31 | 43,293 | |
October 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Louisville |
| ACCN | W 28–13 | 53,123 | |
November 6 | 4:00 p.m. | at Florida State | No. 19 | ACCN | W 28–14 | 50,835 | |
November 13 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 12 Wake Forest | No. 16 | ACCN | L 42–45 | 34,503 | |
November 20 | 4:00 p.m. | Syracuse | No. 20 |
| ACCN | W 41–17 | 54,083 |
November 26 | 7:00 p.m. | North Carolina | No. 20 |
| ESPN | W 34–30 | 56,919 |
vs. | No. 18 | Canceled | _ | ||||
|
Source[5]
Coaching staff
editName | Title |
---|---|
Dave Doeren | Head Coach |
Tim Beck | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks |
Tony Gibson | Defensive coordinator/linebackers |
Charlie Wiles | Defensive Line |
Joe DeForest | Safeties |
Todd Goebbel | Tight Ends/special teams |
Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay | Nickels |
John Garrison | Offensive Line |
Brian Mitchell | Cornerbacks |
Kurt Roper | Running Backs |
Ruffin McNeill | Special Assistant to the head coach |
Source[6]
Roster
edit2021 NC State Wolfpack football team roster | ||||||||||
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Punters
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Offensive lineman
Defensive lineman
|
Placekickers
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Long snappers
|
Source[7]
Game summaries
editSouth Florida
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU −20 | 58 |
Statistics | USF | NCSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 15 | 27 |
Total yards | 271 | 525 |
Rushing yards | 104 | 293 |
Passing yards | 167 | 232 |
Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
Time of possession | 30:48 | 29:12 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
South Florida | Passing | Timmy McClain | 7–13, 126 yards, 2 INT |
Rushing | Jaren Mangham | 5 carries, 26 yards | |
Receiving | Xavier Weaver | 2 receptions, 73 yards | |
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 17–26, 232 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 16 carries, 164 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 5 receptions, 71 yards |
At Mississippi State
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU −1.5 | 56 |
Statistics | NCSU | MSSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 15 |
Total yards | 337 | 316 |
Rushing yards | 34 | 22 |
Passing yards | 303 | 294 |
Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Time of possession | 28:57 | 31:03 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 30–49, 303 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 8 carries, 31 yards | |
Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 6 receptions, 92 yards | |
Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 33–49, 294 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 6 carries, 18 yards | |
Receiving | Dillon Johnson | 6 receptions, 70 yards |
Furman
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU −27.5 | 45 |
Statistics | FUR | NCSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 9 | 25 |
Total yards | 196 | 505 |
Rushing yards | 92 | 218 |
Passing yards | 104 | 287 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 27:21 | 32:39 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Furman | Passing | Hamp Sisson | 8–19, 86 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Devin Wynn | 9 carries, 27 yards | |
Receiving | Ryan Miller | 2 receptions, 31 yards, 1 TD | |
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 23–29, 259 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 11 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Thayer Thomas | 5 receptions, 82 yards, 1 TD |
No. 9 Clemson
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
CLEM −10.5 | 48 |
Statistics | CLEM | NCSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 10 | 31 |
Total yards | 214 | 386 |
Rushing yards | 103 | 148 |
Passing yards | 111 | 238 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 18:12 | 41:48 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Clemson | Passing | DJ Uiagalelei | 12–26, 111 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | DJ Uiagalelei | 9 carries, 63 yards | |
Receiving | Justyn Ross | 8 receptions, 77 yards, 2 TD | |
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 32–44, 238 yards, 4 TD |
Rushing | Ricky Person Jr. | 21 carries, 91 yards | |
Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 14 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana Tech
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU −17.5 | 56 |
Statistics | La Tech | NCSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 26 | 23 |
Total yards | 480 | 418 |
Rushing yards | 139 | 167 |
Passing yards | 341 | 251 |
Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Time of possession | 30:43 | 29:17 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Louisiana Tech | Passing | Austin Kendall | 26–43, 341 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Austin Kendall | 15 carries, 71 yards | |
Receiving | Bub Means | 6 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD | |
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 22–36, 251 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Ricky Person Jr. | 15 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 4 receptions, 67 yards |
At Boston College
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU −3 | 51 |
Statistics | NCSU | BC |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 17 |
Total yards | 381 | 291 |
Rushing yards | 130 | 97 |
Passing yards | 251 | 194 |
Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
Time of possession | 31:53 | 28:07 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 16–24, 251 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Jordan Houston | 8 carries, 43 yards | |
Receiving | Thayer Thomas | 4 receptions, 122 yards, 1 TD | |
Boston College | Passing | Dennis Grosel | 21–39, 194 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Patrick Garwo | 1 carries, 52 yards | |
Receiving | Jaelen Gill | 5 receptions, 71 yards |
At Miami
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU −3.5 | 55 |
Statistics | NCSU | MIA |
---|---|---|
First downs | 18 | 18 |
Total yards | 421 | 420 |
Rushing yards | 111 | 95 |
Passing yards | 310 | 325 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Time of possession | 28:30 | 31:30 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 24–42, 310 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Ricky Person Jr. | 9 carries, 54 yards | |
Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 3 receptions, 75 yards | |
Miami | Passing | Tyler Van Dyke | 25–33, 325 yards, 4 TD |
Rushing | Jaylan Knighton | 21 carries, 83 yards | |
Receiving | Charleston Rambo | 9 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TD |
vs Louisville
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU −6 | 57 |
Statistics | LOU | NCSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 17 | 19 |
Total yards | 434 | 361 |
Rushing yards | 219 | 317 |
Passing yards | 215 | 44 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 30:37 | 29:23 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Louisville | Passing | Malik Cunningham | 11–28, 219 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Malik Cunningham | 18 carries, 76 yards | |
Receiving | Jordan Watkins | 2 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD | |
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 25–36, 317 yards, 4 TD |
Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 11 carries, 23 yards | |
Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 5 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD |
At Florida State
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU −3 | 55 |
Statistics | NCSU | FSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 17 | 18 |
Total yards | 400 | 271 |
Rushing yards | 86 | 38 |
Passing yards | 314 | 233 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 34:12 | 25:48 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 21–32, 314 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 18 carries, 75 yards | |
Receiving | Trent Pennix | 3 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD | |
Florida State | Passing | McKenzie Milton | 22–44, 233 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Jashaun Corbin | 14 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Keyshawn Helton | 4 receptions, 49 yards, 1 TD |
At No. 12 Wake Forest
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
WF –1 | 65 |
Statistics | NCSU | WAKE |
---|---|---|
First downs | 25 | 27 |
Total yards | 482 | 406 |
Rushing yards | 74 | 116 |
Passing yards | 408 | 290 |
Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
Time of possession | 28:20 | 31:40 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 37–59, 408 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Ricky Person, Jr. | 8 carries, 36 yards | |
Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 10 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TD | |
Wake Forest | Passing | Sam Hartman | 20–47, 290 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT |
Rushing | Justice Ellison | 17 carries, 56 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | A. T. Perry | 5 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD |
Syracuse
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU –11.5 | 49.5 |
Statistics | CUSE | NCSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 19 |
Total yards | 236 | 399 |
Rushing yards | 170 | 96 |
Passing yards | 66 | 303 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 29:24 | 30:36 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Syracuse | Passing | Garrett Shrader | 8–20, 63 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Sean Tucker | 14 carries, 109 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Devaughn Cooper | 3 receptions, 31 yards | |
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 17–24, 303 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Ricky Person Jr. | 12 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Thayer Thomas | 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD |
North Carolina
edit
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
NCSU –5 | 61 |
Statistics | UNC | NCSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 22 | 21 |
Total yards | 444 | 360 |
Rushing yards | 297 | 113 |
Passing yards | 147 | 247 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 29:21 | 30:39 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 14–26, 147 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | British Brooks | 15 carries, 124 yards | |
Receiving | Josh Downs | 8 receptions, 75 yards | |
NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 19–30, 247 yards, 4 TD |
Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 9 carries, 69 yards | |
Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 5 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TD |
Rankings
editWeek | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
AP | RV | RV | — | — | 23 | 23 | 22 | 18 | RV | RV | 21 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 20 |
Coaches | RV | RV | RV | — | RV | 22 | 21 | 18 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 19 |
CFP | Not released | 19 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | Not released |
Players drafted into the NFL
editRound | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | Ikem Ekwonu | OT | Carolina Panthers |
7 | 255 | Trenton Gill | P | Chicago Bears |
References
edit- ^ Schlabach, Mark (December 28, 2021). "Holiday Bowl between UCLA and NC State Wolfpack canceled due to COVID-19 issues in Bruins program". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea (December 29, 2021). "Holiday Bowl unable to find replacement college football team, cancels game". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ DeCock, Luke (December 29, 2021). "Did NC State football win nine or 10 games this season? It depends on who you ask". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved December 29, 2021 – via MSN.com.
- ^ "Wolfpack Football Announces 2021 Schedule" (Press release). January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "2021 NC State Wolfpack Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "Coaching Staff". gopack.com. NC State Athletics. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Football Roster". NC State Athletics. Retrieved September 7, 2021.