Football: Devin Leary picks N.C. State
By Phil Anastasia
Staff Writer
Timber Creek star quarterback Devin Leary has made his college choice, announcing Thursday that he plans to attend North Carolina State.
Leary said he visited the school's campus in Raleigh, N.C., during spring practice on the weekend of March 25-26 and felt a strong connection with the football program, especially offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Eliah Drinkwitz and head coach Dave Doeren.
"They're just laid-back, humble guys who really want to develop you as a football player," Leary said.
Leary said after he returned home from his visit, he became convinced that North Carolina State was the place for him.
"After I came home, I got that feeling," Leary said. "I was thinking, 'That's the school for me.' I've only been there twice but I feel like I've spent a lot of time there.
"I was talking with (Timber Creek) Coach (Rob) Hinson and I told him, 'I'm 100 percent sure.'
"He said, 'Go for it.'"
Leary, a four-star recruit by rivals.com, was Gatorade's New Jersey Player of the Year after leading Timber Creek to a 12-0 record and the South Jersey Group 4 title in 2016.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Leary set state records for passing yards (3,688) and touchdowns (48) in a season.
Leary made the announcement in a video that was shot at Timber Creek. He was surrounded by family, friends and teammates.
"I'm very excited for Devin," Hinson said. "That's a very big decision in a kid's life and he and his family seem very happy with the decison they made.
"They run a very similar offensive system there so it should be a smooth transition. He'll probably have to sit and learn for a bit. Once he gets it down though, we all expect great things from him. We're very proud for him and happy for him."
North Carolina freshman wide receiver Kelvin Harmon, a Palmyra graduate, was on Twitter after Leary's announcement, welcoming "another Jersey dawwg" to the Wolf Pack.
Leary was the trigger man for Timber Creek's high-powered offense last season. He threw for five touchdowns in three different first halfs as the Chargers rolled up 564 points, the second-highest total in South Jersey history.
Leary finished his junior season with 6,809 yards and 74 touchdowns in his career. He needs 3,191 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior to reach astounding totals of 10,000 career yards and 100 career touchdowns.
Leary also held offers from Rutgers, Maryland, Boston College, Indiana, Baylor and Iowa, among other programs.
Leary said making his college decision was a "relief" because it removes him from the recruiting process and allows him to focus fully on preparing for his senior season.
"The recruiting process can be stressful but I enjoyed it," Leary said. "To me, the relief is more that now I don't have to worry about it anymore and I can concentrate on getting ready to help my team in my last season."
-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com
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