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A car accident cost Nate Irving his 2009 season. It also changed his outlook on life.

The North Carolina State linebacker suffered a collapsed lung, broken leg, broken rib and separated shoulder after falling asleep at the wheel in June 2009.

"I could've been dead," he said this week at the ACC's preseason media gathering in Greensboro, N.C. "I could've had my leg cut off. There was so much more that could've happened. But here I am, getting ready to play football again. So I [am] nothing but grateful."

He said he has grown from the accident.

"I'm a lot more mature in my decision-making about what to do and what not to do," he said. "I took a lot of things for granted, but now I'm so much more appreciative of everything.

"From waking up at 4 o'clock in the morning to going out in the blazing sun [for] running, I appreciate everything so much more."

Irving, a fifth-year senior, is expected to start at middle linebacker for the Wolfpack. He earned All-ACC honorable mention as an outside linebacker in 2008, when he had 84 tackles and four interceptions.

On June 28, 2009, he was driving his sport utility vehicle on Interstate 40 in North Carolina at 4:40 a.m., according to a police report obtained by the Charlotte Observer, when he fell asleep and ran off the road in a one-car accident.

"I wanted to know [in the hospital] what happened because I really wasn't aware of it," Irving said. "After I felt the tubes and the brace around my neck and everything, I asked my doctor whether I'd be able to play again. He told me, 'Yes.' "

Family, friends and the Wolfpack trainers provided encouragement.

"When I first got out of the hospital, I didn't want to eat, I didn't want to do anything besides sit there in my bed," he said. "They were saying that's signs of depression. But my family didn't let that happen. They would joke with me ... and got me back in the mood of wanting to do things."

He still thinks about the accident every day.

"I think about ... what happened, where I came from and how it's changed me as a person," he said. "But after that, I think about where I want to go."

Irving is eager to help his team again. He is even looking forward to preseason practice.

"The day is marked on my calendar," he said. "I think this might be the first year since I've been in college that I had the calendar on my wall counting down the days until camp starts."

Irving was driving back to N.C. State from his family's home in Wallace, N.C., when the accident occurred. The accident taught him a valuable lesson.

"I'm not scared of driving at night -- I'm just a little bit more wise about how to go about doing it -- take a little nap or something," he said. "I can't just get out there at 4 o'clock in the morning."

The 6-foot-1 Irving lost about 35 pounds after the accident, dropping to 215 pounds. He is now up to 235 pounds.

After plenty of rehab, he was cleared to participate in spring practice. He took part in some contact work but wasn't yet back to playing like he used to, said coach Tom O'Brien.

"I didn't know how my body would respond," Irving said. "In the middle of the practices, I started being able to trust myself, my body, going back through the rigors of ... football.

"Only [preseason] practice is going to tell, but as of right now, I feel like I'm back at full effect."

The Wolfpack finished 5-7 overall, 2-6 in the ACC last season. Irving attended practices and home games, as well as a few road games.

It was hard for him to watch all the losses.

"I felt bad for myself and I felt like I let all the seniors down," he said.

With Irving back, the Wolfpack defense should be better this season.

"Having him back is tremendous," receiver Owen Spencer said. "It's a big morale booster for the whole team."

"I don't know how much difference I can make, but I just want to be out there with my guys," Irving said.