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.
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 the game time on December 28, UCLA withdrew from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues and the bowl was canceled. NC State was awarded the Holiday Bowl trophy after the cancellation 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. NC State beat Clemson for the first time since 2011.
Schedule NC State announced its 2021 football schedule on January 28, 2021. Source
Coaching staff Dave DoerenHead CoachTim BeckOffensive coordinator/quarterbacksTony GibsonDefensive coordinator/linebackersCharlie WilesDefensive LineJoe DeForestSafetiesTodd GoebbelTight Ends/special teamsFreddie Aughtry-LindsayNickelsJohn GarrisonOffensive LineBrian MitchellCornerbacksKurt RoperRunning BacksRuffin McNeillSpecial Assistant to the head coach Source
Roster 2021 NC State Wolfpack football team rosterQuarterbacks 10 Ben Finley – freshman (6'1, 201) 11 Andrew Harvey – freshman (6'2, 209) 12 Zo Wallace – freshman (6'1, 254) 13 Devin Leary – sophomore (6'1, 212) 16 Aaron McLaughlin – freshman (6'5, 230)
Running backs 3 Jordan Houston – sophomore (5'10, 190) 6 Trent Pennix – sophomore (6'3, 236) 7 Zonovan Knight – sophomore (5'11, 210) 8 Ricky Person Jr. – junior(6'1, 222) 26 Demi Sumo – freshman (6'0, 200) 30 Keon Caudle Jr. – freshman (5'1, 213) 34 Delbert Mimms III – freshman (5'11, 220) 36 Demarcus Jones II – freshman (5'10, 213) 38 Joey Ray – sophomore (5'9, 200)
Wide receivers 4 Porter Rooks – freshman (6'1, 190) 5 Thayer Thomas – junior (6'0, 197) 15 Keyon Lesane – sophomore (5'11, 190) 19 C.J. Riley – graduate (6'4, 230) 20 Julian Gray – freshman (5'11, 193) 21 Jalen Coit – freshman (5'11, 156) 22 Micah Crowell – freshman (6'1, 215) 24 Christopher Scott Jr. – freshman (6'0, 160) 29 Christopher Toudle – freshman (6'4, 240) 31 Dillon Mosley – freshman (6'0, 184) 33 Jackson DeSilva – freshman (6'1, 200) 35 Michael Fox – sophomore (6'0, 174) 80 Justin Dunn – sophomore (6'1, 200) 83 Josh Crabtree – freshman (6'3, 193) 84 Jasiah Provillon – sophomore (6'2, 208) 85 Anthony Smith – freshman (6'2, 185) 86 Emeka Emezie – senior (6'3, 212) 88 Devin Carter – sophomore (6'3, 216) 85 Jakolbe Baldwin – freshman (6'0, 207)
Tight ends 28 Dylan Parham – senior (6'5, 245) 39 Ezemdi Udoh – freshman (6'5, 247) 45 Camden Woods – sophomore (6'2, 230) 46 Andrew Jayne – freshman (6'6, 232) 47 Cedd Seabrough – freshman (6'4, 215) 48 Fred Seabrough Jr. – freshman (6'4, 215) 87 Kameron Walker – freshman (6'5, 250)
Punters 98 Caden Noonkester – freshman (6'6, 200) 99 Trenton Gill – junior (6'4, 219) Offensive lineman 50 Grant Gibson – junior (6'1, 305) 52 Timothy McKay – freshman (6'4, 300) 53 Derrick Eason – sophomore (6'4, 309) 54 Dylan McMahon – freshman (6'4, 300) 55 Tyrone Riley – graduate (6'6, 305) 56 Bryson Speas – sophomore (6'4, 290) 57 Lyndon Cooper – freshman (6'2, 340) 60 Ethan Lane – freshman (6'3, 290) 61 Bo Ressler – sophomore (6'7, 305) 62 Jaleel Davis – freshman (6'6, 300) 64 Chandler Zavala – graduate (6'5, 325) 67 Brendan Lawson – freshman (6'2, 270) 68 Matt McCabe – freshman (6'6, 260) 70 Walter Karstens – freshman (6'7, 360) 71 Thornton Gentry – freshman (6'4, 308) 72 Dean Hill – freshman (6'3, 305) 74 Anthony Belton – sophomore (6'6, 335) 75 Anthony Carter Jr. – freshman (6'3, 310) 76 Patrick Matan – freshman (6'4, 300) 78 Jason Roesel – freshman (6'3, 252) 79 Ikem Ekwonu – sophomore (6'4, 320)
Defensive lineman 0 Terrell Dawkins – freshman (6'4, 245) 5 C.J. Clark – freshman (6'3, 300) 42 Danny Blakeman – junior (6'2, 269) 44 Joshua Harris – freshman (6'4, 350) 45 Davin Vann – freshman (6'2, 296) 48 Cory Durden – graduate (6'4, 310) 52 Ibrahim Kante – junior (6'4, 263) 53 Derrick Eason – sophomore (6'4, 309) 54 Zyun Reeves – freshman (6'7, 265) 55 Joshua Harris– freshman (6'4, 350) 57 Jayden Tate – freshman (5'10, 262) 58 Travali Price – freshman (6'4, 260) 90 Savion Jackson – sophomore (6'2, 290) 91 Jerome Williams – freshman (6'1, 277) 94 Alec Neugent – freshman (6'2, 254) 97 Claude Larkins – freshman (6'4, 284) 99 Daniel Joseph – graduate (6'3, 265) Placekickers 32 Christopher Dunn – junior (5'8, 184) 90 Collin Smith – freshman (5'9, 187) 93 Ian Williams – freshman (6'3, 232)
Linebackers 1 Isaiah Moore – junior (6'2, 236) 2 Jaylon Scott – sophomore (6'1, 245) 11 Payton Wilson – sophomore (6'4, 235) 26 Devon Betty – freshman (6'1, 225) 27 Jayland Parker – freshman (6'1, 202) 28 Aristotle Bowles – junior (5'11, 212) 31 Vi Jones – junior (6'3, 227) 32 Drake Thomas – sophomore (6'0, 238) 33 Jordan Poole – freshman (6'0, 222) 39 Jamie Shaw – freshman (6'4, 242) 41 Caden Fordham – freshman (6'1, 214) 43 Colby Johnson – freshman (6'0, 198) 47 Alex Gray – sophomore (6'1, 218) 49 Bernard Flerlage – freshman (6'0, 245)
Defensive backs 3 Aydan White – freshman (6'0, 178) 7 Chris Ingram – senior (6'0, 186) 8 Jalen Frazier – freshman (5'9, 181) 10 Tanner Ingle – junior (5'10, 182) 12 Devan Boykin – freshman (5'10, 187) 13 Tyler Baker-Williams – junior (6'1, 209) 14 Nehki Meredith – freshman (5'9, 180) 15 Cayman Czesak – junior (6'2, 188) 19 Joshua Pierre-Louis – freshman (5'10, 175) 21 Khalid Martin – freshman (6'0, 192) 22 Teshaun Smith – junior (6'3, 192) 24 Derrek Pitts Jr. – graduate (6'1, 182) 25 Shyheim Battle – freshman (6'2, 183) 34 Nate Evans – freshman (6'0, 172) 35 Chase Hattley – freshman (6'3, 205) 36 Samuel Duncan – freshman (6'0, 185) 37 Nicholas Treco – freshman (5'11, 195) 38 Clay Craddock – freshman (6'0, 209) 39 Darius Edmundson – sophomore (6'0, 170) 44 Mario Love Jr. – freshman (5'9, 162)
Long snappers 91 Joe Shimko – sophomore (6'0, 220) 92 Alex McLaughlin – freshman (5'10, 220) Source
Game summaries
South Florida
Statistics USFNCSU 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 StatisticsSouth Florida Passing Timmy McClain 7–13, 126 yards, 2 INT Rushing Jaren Mangham 5 carries, 26 yards Receiving Xavier Weaver 2 receptions, 73 yardsNC 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
Statistics NCSUMSSU 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 StatisticsNC 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 yardsMississippi 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
Statistics FURNCSU 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 StatisticsFurman 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 TDNC 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
Statistics CLEMNCSU 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 StatisticsClemson 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 TDNC 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
Statistics La TechNCSU 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 StatisticsLouisiana 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 TDNC 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
Statistics NCSUBC 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 StatisticsNC 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 TDBoston 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
Statistics NCSUMIA 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 StatisticsNC State Passing Devin Leary 24–42, 310 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ricky Person Jr. 9 carries, 54 yards Receiving Emeka Emezie 3 receptions, 75 yardsMiami 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
Statistics LOUNCSU 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 StatisticsLouisville 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
Statistics NCSUFSU 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 StatisticsNC 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 TDFlorida 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
Statistics NCSUWAKE 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 StatisticsNC 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 TDWake 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
Statistics CUSENCSU 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 StatisticsSyracuse Passing Garrett Shrader 8–20, 63 yards, 1 INT Rushing Sean Tucker 14 carries, 109 yards, 1 TD Receiving Devaughn Cooper 3 receptions, 31 yardsNC 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