RALEIGH — Dave Doeren’s facial hair is greater than only a new look.
For NC State’s soccer coach — now coming into his tenth season with a contract extension that would maintain him in Raleigh till 2026 — the salt and peppered beard is a day by day reminder of final season’s controversial finish.
The Wolfpack have been set to face UCLA within the Dec. 28 Vacation Bowl with an opportunity to win their tenth sport for less than the second time in program historical past earlier than the Bruins pulled out hours earlier than kickoff on account of COVID-19 points inside the program.
Doeren advised reporters later that day he “felt lied to” and mentioned that UCLA was misleading when it got here to the well being of its gamers. The NCAA later dominated the sport a no-contest, leaving NC State with 9 wins and prompting Doeren to present school sports activities’ governing physique a brand new acronym.
“The NCAA stands for No Clue At All for my part,” Doeren mentioned in December.
Six months later, that anger stays.
“Once I began it (rising the beard), it was simply my protest of how our season ended,” Doeren advised the USA TODAY Community. “I used to be pissed off on the world when all that stuff occurred.”
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It is the right narrative for Doeren to undertake because the Wolfpack enters the 2022 season with the best expectations of any crew over the past decade. It is a program that thrives as an underdog however has struggled as a favourite; a spot they discover themselves this 12 months.
“There may be a variety of unfinished enterprise,” Doeren mentioned in Could. “There was an enormous chip on our shoulder as a result of we didn’t get to the Charlotte sport final 12 months.”
Doeren, 50, is on his approach to changing into this system’s all-time winningest coach and is the one one to guide the Wolfpack to 3 separate nine-win seasons, together with ending 18th within the closing Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings and twentieth within the closing AP High 25 rankings final season.
However the sport’s largest accomplishments have remained out of attain. NC State has by no means performed in an ACC title sport — the convention started taking part in a championship sport in 2005 — and shut losses to Miami (31-30) and Wake Forest (45-42) stored that streak alive in 2021.
This season, although, the Wolfpack are fashionable picks to win the ACC’s Atlantic Division after defeating Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina final season for the primary time in 20 years. There’s a sure degree of trepidation with the preseason hype, particularly after watching UNC stumble and fall final 12 months after coming into the season as a nationwide title hopeful.
However NC State has the inspiration for fulfillment.
All 10 on-field assistant coaches return with new contract agreements in addition to the vast majority of the starters from final 12 months’s 9-3 marketing campaign.
The thrill begins with returning quarterback Devin Leary, who Doeren has known as the “finest quarterback within the nation” throughout a number of offseason interv
Leary returns for his fourth 12 months in Raleigh after quieting his detractors with a breakout season in 2021. Coming off a damaged leg in 2020, Leary grew to become one of many nation’s best passers with 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns and solely 5 interceptions whereas finishing 65% of his throws.
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This season, Leary’s blind aspect can be extra susceptible with left deal with Ikem Ekwonu turning professional. The 6-6, 330-pound Anthony Belton, Ekwonu’s backup final season, obtained the beginning at left deal with in the course of the spring sport and senior Bryson Speas and sophomore Timothy McKay is also used on the place.
“There are a variety of guys right here which can be excited for his or her alternative to compete,” Doeren mentioned. “By the point we get to August, we’ll have an actual good really feel for the place we’re at.”
The return of offensive lineman Chandler Zavala will present a lift after the NCAA granted him a sixth 12 months of eligibility. His preliminary utility for a sixth season of eligibility primarily based on accidents and a 12 months misplaced on account of COVID-19 was initially denied.
“I am simply so excited to have an opportunity to play one other 12 months with my brothers,” Chandler advised the USA TODAY Community. “We have an opportunity to do one thing particular.”
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Leary could have some acquainted targets at large receiver with Thayer Thomas and Devin Carter. Thomas caught 51 passes for 596 yards and eight touchdowns final 12 months, and the 6-3 Carter is primed for a breakout after 31 receptions for 556 yards and 6 touchdowns. Maryland switch Darryl Jones may additionally make an early influence for the Wolfpack.
The most important query mark on offense is who will run the ball for the Wolfpack.
Zonovan Knight and Ricky Particular person are each gone to the NFL, leaving NC State with out a confirmed working again.
Junior Jordan Houston is probably the most skilled and the plain candidate to be NC State’s beginning working again for the 2022 season. In 2021, Houston had a career-low 20 carries for 83 yards. He tore a ligament in his foot in the course of the spring sport that restricted his talents originally of the season. In his first two seasons, he had double-digit catches. In 2021, he had three.
Sophomore Delbert Mimms and freshman Demie Sumo have six profession carries between them and Michael Allen, NC State’s four-star working again from the category of 2022, hasn’t performed a down of school soccer.
“These younger guys, Delbert, Demi, they’re actually good,” Houston mentioned. “However I am now the oldest man within the room, so I feel simply naturally, it is for the perfect if I step up and be a pacesetter in that room. I imply, that is what I have been ready for.”
NC State misplaced six starters on protection final 12 months, together with All-ACC linebacker Payton Wilson and Isaiah Moore, and nonetheless solely allowed 19.7 factors a sport. The Pack’s protection completed among the many finest in each main defensive class.
Wilson and Moore return this season together with Drake Thomas, who stepped into the center linebacker place to have 99 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, three interceptions and 9 quarterback hurries. They’re going to additionally return All-ACC defensive deal with Cory Durden, cornerback Derrek Pitts Jr., security Tanner Ingle and nickel Tyler Baker-Williams because of the additional COVID 12 months.
David Thompson is an award-winning reporter for the USA TODAY Community protecting NC State and Duke athletics. He will be reached at [email protected], at 828-231-1747, or on Twitter at @daveth89.