NC State football already reloading for next year. Who else will join the Wolfpack in 2022?

RALEIGH — Run it back.

That seems to be the consensus among N.C. State's football team as the 2021 season nears its conclusion.

There is still a bowl game in San Diego and history to be made with a win over UCLA — the Wolfpack (9-3) have only won 10 games or more once in 116 years — but regardless, the core of this team seems keen on returning.

Center Grant Gibson became the latest player to announce his intention to return, tweeting a picture with the caption "Unfinished Business" on Tuesday. Gibson, a third-team All-ACC selection this season, has started every game at center for the Wolfpack the last three seasons. He'll be back for a fourth.

Gibson will likely be joined by OL graduate transfer Chandler Zavala, who was injured after five games and submitted a waiver to the NCAA for another year.

More: Food, football, and family with Chandler and Demetrio Zavala

Running back Ricky Person has already announced his plans to go to the NFL with a similar announcement expected for OL Ikem Ekwonu in the near future. Ekwonu is a projected first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

More: NC State's projected first-round NFL Draft pick Ikem Ekwonu is more than a football player

"These young men have a lot of people in their ears telling them what to do, and they trust us," coach Dave Doeren said earlier this week. "They know they are going to have an opportunity to be developed by great people. They love being around these guys and coaches, it says a lot about the culture here.”

N.C. State's defense ranked as one of the best in the country in 2021, and already, a few key players have said they'd come back to Raleigh for another season.

Cory Durden, the All-ACC first-team defensive tackle, announced in late November that he would return after starting the final eight games of the year and finishing with 31 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Linebacker Isaiah Moore and defensive back Cyrus Fagan, both of which had season-ending injuries, said they would return for the 2022 season.

Moore played in seven games this season before suffering a knee injury against Miami. Fagan tore his bicep against Mississippi State which required surgery and four to six months of recovery.

Starting defensive back Derrek Pitts, the former West Virginia and Marshall transfer, also announced his return last weekend. He finished the season with 43 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions and six pass deflections.

“They see teammates like Emeka come back and see what he accomplished... Bradley Chubb came back and had a great year, Ryan Finley came back and had a great year," Doeren said. "These guys who have done that have benefited."

There are, however, still some important players th have yet to decide on their future.

The verdict is still out on linebacker Payton Wilson, the preseason All-ACC standout, who reinjured his left shoulder against Mississippi State and was forced to sit out the remainder of the season.

"I haven't really made a full decision because there is a lot to talk about with my injury history and what would be smart," Wilson told the USA Today Network in November. "I'm still talking with my family about it. There are so many pros and cons with declaring. I know with these shoulder injuries, if I came back (to N.C. State), I know what I would be able to do and raise my draft stock. But also, if I come back and get injured again, who knows what would happen."

If Wilson does return, he would lead a linebacking core that includes Moore and All-ACC first-teamer Drake Thomas, who stepped up in a huge was with Wilson and Moore on the sideline.

The Wolfpack defense ranked in the top three in all major statistical categories in the ACC. Only one member of the unit, defensive end Daniel Joseph, has exhausted all eligibility. N.C. State's defense could return 14 of the top 15 tacklers from the 2021 team.

There has also been no word from sophomore quarterback Devin Leary, who is eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft. Leary had a banner third season, passing for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns to five interceptions. Same goes for running back Zonovan Knight, who finished the season with 753 yards and three touchdowns while adding multiple scores on special teams.

Doeren said last month that many of the players are still waiting until the end of the season to make future decisions. The Wolfpack will face UCLA (8-4) in the San Diego Country Credit Union Holiday Bowl at Petco Park on Dec. 28 at 8 p.m.

The Wolfpack has had one player, reserve defensive back Mario Love Jr., enter the transfer portal this season.

“These guys have bought into waiting until the season is over,” Doeren said. “And trying to finish and play as undistracted as they can be.”

Story update

N.C. State redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary told the USA Today Network on Wednesday that he will return next year for his fifth season with the Wolfpack.

Leary also said that fellow redshirt sophomore and All-ACC linebacker Payton Wilson will return to N.C. State after suffering a season-ending injury against Mississippi State.

The two are roommates.

On Wednesday evening, safety Tanner Ingle announced on social media he would return as well.

Listen to the full interview with Devin Leary

https://bleav.com/shows/nc-state/episodes/episode-5-nc-states-devin-leary-joins-the-show/

David Thompson is an award-winning reporter for the USA Today Network covering NC State and Duke athletics. He can be reached at dthompson1@gannett.com, at 828-231-1747, or on Twitter at @daveth89.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State football already reloading for next year. Who else will join?