The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1497827
36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER sons. Roper values ball security and con- sistency. After the team's first few spring prac- tices together, the Wolfpack assistant noted how Armstrong's experience helps him on the field. "He's played so long now that defensive football is making sense to him," Roper said. "He's able to get into the third area of that and have really good pre-snap plans." NC State played its spring game in the middle of a downpour on April 8. Making his public debut in a Wolfpack uniform, Armstrong threw for 127 yards and 2 in- terceptions. He did not hesitate to take the blame for both turnovers, conceding after the game, "It's all on me." The slick field conditions certainly didn't help, but Armstrong refused to use them as an excuse. "Weather is something you've got to deal with as a quarterback," he said. "Ob- viously, I'd like to take those two over- thrown balls away. … Weather was a fac- tor, but I've got to do a better job taking care of the ball." A Dramatic Return Shortly after arriving in Raleigh, Armstrong began building a relation- ship with the Wolfpack receiving corps. First, they just worked on establish- ing their timing and getting to know each other. Then, their bonds extended into spring practice, where learning the scheme is critical. The next stage in the team's offseason preparations is an extremely important stretch of workouts leading up to fall camp in August. "The chemistry is starting to get there, and I think summer is going to be huge for us because now they've been in the offense," Armstrong said. "They've seen what's going on in spring ball, they understand the route concepts, the things that we're trying to create on offense, and I think that's going to go a long way." NC State opens its ACC schedule in Charlottesville on Sept. 22. The con- ference opener is always a big game, but it's especially meaningful this year with Armstrong returning to his former school. He admitted that he has that matchup circled on his calendar. "I want to go in there and prove my- self," Armstrong said. In addition to the road matchup against the Cavaliers, the Pack plays a stacked home schedule that kicks off with a showdown against Notre Dame. The Irish will likely be a preseason top- 15 team. "I think this schedule is set up to have a huge year," Armstrong said. "We've got tough opponents, and the best part about them is that they're coming into our house." Armstrong is very familiar with the ACC and knows many of his opponents' defensive schemes well. That gives the signal-caller a unique advantage on the field this fall. With fall camp only about four months away, Armstrong is completely locked in and comfortable at NC State. "I'm very settled in," he said. "It's like a home to me now." ■ Anae previously worked with Armstrong at Virginia. In 2021, their last season together in Charlottesville, the Cavaliers averaged 392.6 passing yards per game. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN