Returning Starters: 14 (8 offense, 6 defense)

Key Returnees: QB Russell Wilson, RB Jamelle Eugene, RB Toney Baker, WR Owen Spencer, WR Jarvis Williams, TE George Bryan, C Ten Larsen, OT Jeraill McCuller, OT Jake Vermiglio, DE Shea McKeen, DT Alan-Michael Cash, DE Willie Young, LB Ray Michel, CB DeAndre Morgan, S Clem Johnson, S Justin Byers

Key Losses: RB Andre Brown, TE Anthony Hill, OG Meares Green, OG John Bedics, DT Keith Willis, DT Antoine Holmes, LB Robbie Leonard, LB Nate Irving (car accident), CB Jeremy Gray, SS J.C. Neal

NC State was the surprise team of the ACC last year, winning their last four regular season games to qualify for a bowl. Leading the way was r-freshman quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw 17 touchdown passes and just one interception. The Wolfpack are much more experienced this year, and they are considered the sleeper of the ACC's Atlantic Division.

The offense returns many weapons, but there are still questions on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker Nate Irving, one of the best linebackers in the ACC, will miss the season after sustaining injuries in a car accident over the summer. He is a major loss, as the NC State defense played much better last season with him in the lineup.

NC State has good depth at the quarterback position. Russell Wilson was statistically the best signal caller in the ACC last year, throwing for 1,955 yards with 17 touchdowns and one interception. He gradually improved as the season went along, and proved to be a clutch performer in big games.

He is backed up by r-freshman Mike Glennon, the younger brother of Sean Glennon. Glennon had an impressive spring, and head coach Tom O'Brien likes tall pocket passers. If something happens to Russell Wilson this year, the Wolfpack will have a capable backup.

The NC State offensive line struggled last year, and they lose starting guards Meares Green and John Bedics. Starting center Ted Larsen was on the field for 730 plays last year, despite spending the first two years of his career at defensive tackle. John Bedics was also a former defensive tackle, which shows how desperate the Wolfpack have been for offensive linemen in the Tom O'Brien era.

Russell Wilson can run pretty well, so he helps mask some of the deficiencies up front. However, if this group can improve and help in the running game, the NC State offense has the potential to be very good.

NC State has an experienced defensive line. Defensive end Willie Young has 23 career starts, and he is projected to be a high NFL Draft pick next season. Defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash has 22 career starts, and he's the top interior lineman on the team. Shea McKeen also has a year of starting experience at defensive end.

The Wolfpack should have a defensive line that is capable of stopping the running game, though they might not be that great at rushing the passer, with the exception of Young. Depth is an issue up front, and NC State could find themselves wearing down late in games.

With the loss of Nate Irving, linebacker just became a weakness of NC State. Irving would have combined with Ray Michel to form a very good duo, but now Michel is the only experienced linebacker on the team. Dwayne Maddox started four games last year as a true freshman, and Terrell Manning should make a push for playing time as well.

However, with Irving out, the NC State defense loses a lot of playmaking ability. Despite missing four games with an injury, Irving had 84 tackles and 12 tackles for loss a year ago.

Nothing gets fans in this region more excited than an ACC-SEC matchup, and that's what we'll have on the first night of the season. NC State hosts South Carolina on Thursday, September 3. Last year the Gamecocks crushed the Wolfpack, but this year's game should be much more competitive.

South Carolina will be starting a new quarterback, and they return just 11 starters overall. This is a prime opportunity for the ACC to steal a win over the vaunted SEC.

There is a lot to like about NC State. They are very well coached by Tom O'Brien, they have a proven quarterback, two experienced tailbacks (Jamelle Eugene and Toney Baker), and perhaps the most underrated wide receiver in the league (Owen Spencer). Brandon Barnes, a r-freshman, appears ready to make plays at tailback as well. If their offensive line can play well, this can be a very good offense.

I'm not as sold on the Wolfpack defense, however. Their starting defensive line is good, but how is the depth? With no Nate Irving at linebacker, how well can this unit play? In the secondary, starters Jeremy Gray and J.C. Neal depart, but they do return seven other players who have starting experience.

I like the way NC State's schedule sets up at the beginning of the season. If the Wolfpack can beat South Carolina, they'll have two easy games against Murray State and Gardner-Webb before hosting Big East favorite Pitt. NC State should be favored in all of those games, and they have a good chance to go 4-0 before traveling to Wake Forest on October 3. Then they host Duke, and then play at Boston College. That's not a difficult schedule at all, though it starts to get dicey with an October 31 trip to Florida State.

The back of NC State's schedule is more loaded than the front, with Maryland, Clemson, Virginia Tech and UNC in the month of November. The Wolfpack should still be in contention heading into the FSU game on Halloween, but can they survive that five game stretch to end the season.

NC State should be an improved football team this year, and I can see them in the Gator Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl, or something like that. However, I don't quite see them as an ACC Champion, though I think they'll be highly competitive within the conference this year.