2/27/2020 football Edit

NC State quarterback Devin Leary is ready to attack the spring

Matt Carter • TheWolfpackCentral

Editor

A year ago, Devin Leary entered spring practices hoping to impress in the competition with Matthew McKay and Bailey Hockman for the starting quarterback position. The trio were trying to replace one of the better signal-callers in NC State football history: Ryan Finley.

Leary and Hockman left that spring trailing McKay in the race, and McKay would hold the advantage through preseason camp, earning the starting nod for the season opener against East Carolina. Hockman was second string, leaving Leary to begin his redshirt freshman campaign third on the depth chart.

NC State Wolfpack football quarterback Devin Leary throws a pass — Leary ended the 2019 season starting the final five games of the year for the Wolfpack. (Ken Martin/The Wolfpacker)

Fast forward to the start of spring practices Thursday, and a lot has changed. McKay transferred to Montana State. Hockman had his shot after McKay faltered early, but he is back to second string.

And head coach Dave Doeren confirmed that it is now Leary’s job to lose. The diplomatic Leary, however, is not approaching the spring as if he is a clear-cut starter in the quarterback room.

“Our whole QB room, we work together,” Leary insisted. “We work the same day, we watch the same film. We are kind of moving collectively together, all working towards the same goal.”

Leary started the final five games of the 2019 season, and he finished the year with 1,219 yards passing and eight scores against five picks. However, he also only completed 48.1 percent of his throws.

His goal this offseason is to build more “command” of the offense.

“Just getting comfortable within the offense [and] defensive recognition, just being able to identify defenses better,” Leary explained of his spring aims. “Having a better plan going in pre-snap, being able to know what I’m going to do with the ball before I catch it.”

One of the chief lessons that Leary took away from last season was that preparation matters.

“We just have to get better as a whole,” Leary noted. “Being able to prepare myself mentally and physically, that’s really a big step I need to take. Just being able to break down film … and going into the game prepared.”

One new aspect for Leary this spring will be working with his third different position coach and offensive coordinator.

During Leary’s redshirt year, the quarterbacks were led by Eli Drinkwitz. After the 2018 campaign, Drinkwitz was hired by Appalachian State, and he used a successful 2019 season in Boone to catapult himself into the job at Missouri.

Drinkwitz was replaced at offensive coordinator by Des Kitchings and George McDonald, while the new quarterbacks coach was Kurt Roper. After a hard-luck 2019 season, Doeren made some more changes.

Tim Beck was hired to take over as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach while Roper moved over to lead the running backs. Leary said he is still learning Beck’s system and coaching style.

“I would just say everyone’s system is definitely different,” Leary confirmed. “Whenever you get a new OC, obviously there’s going to be some changes. Being able to collectively bring everyone together and learn the same way and learn the system at the same time is very huge for us.”

More than anything for Leary and his teammates, the start of spring practices Thursday marked the beginning of a fresh start after the disappointments of a 4-8 season. In a way, it was another change from a year ago.

“It’s definitely different, a different vibe,” Leary said. “Just washing everything away from last year, on to a new season and just attacking every day 1-0.”