The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1502339
30 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Reunion In Raleigh BY ETHAN MCDOWELL F irst-year NC State offensive coordinator Robert Anae has an extensive history with graduate student quarterback Brennan Armstrong. From 2018 to 2021, the two collabo- rated to give Virginia one of the nation's most productive pass- ing attacks. During his five seasons in Charlottesville, including four with Anae, Armstrong racked up 9,034 passing yards and 58 touch- downs. He became Virginia's career leader in both of those cat- egories and set a multitude of additional school records. The ability to process information quickly is a necessary skill for any quarterback in Anae's offensive system. Armstrong has displayed that ability, and the working relationship he and Anae established while with the Cavaliers helped NC State install the coach's offense during the 2023 offseason. MJ Morris has also impressed Anae during the coordinator's first six months in the program. Anae, a 36-year coaching vet- eran with stops at Syracuse, BYU, Arizona and Texas Tech, among others, explained that the sophomore quarterback is still working to learn the scheme, but he added that Morris has the tools to be successful. "MJ seems like he's got a knack for the game," Anae said. Morris made five appearances as a true freshman. He devel- oped into the team's backup quarterback, and later became the starter when Devin Leary got hurt. Morris ended up throwing for 648 yards and 7 touchdowns, with just 1 interception. In a June interview with The Wolfpacker, head coach Dave Doeren confirmed that Armstrong was leading the battle for the Pack's starting job. "Right now, Brennan is our starter," he said. But Doeren em- phasized that Morris, who still has four years to play in college, is the program's future. In addition to the two signal-callers battling for the start- ing job, NC State also brought in freshman Lex Thomas in the 2023 class. He is the younger brother of former Pack stand- outs Drake and Thayer Thomas, and starred for Heritage High in Wake Forest, N.C., before joining the program as an early enrollee. QUARTERBACKS ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTER ★★★½ Despite last season's statistical step back, Brennan Armstrong has a résumé that rivals any other quarterback in the conference. He has the proven arm talent to make difficult throws, and coordinator Robert Anae's system should put the graduate stu- dent signal-caller in the best situation possible. If MJ Morris beats him out for the job, the sophomore will have also mastered the system and continued his rapid develop- ment, which would be a great sign for the Pack. EXPERIENCE ★★★★ Armstrong has played five seasons of college football, all of them in the ACC. He is familiar with nearly every team the Wolfpack will face this fall. Morris played in sev- eral high-stakes games as a true freshman and displayed poise and skill. DEPTH ★★★ Regardless of whether it's Morris or Armstrong, NC State will have arguably the best backup quarterback in the ACC this year. Beyond them, Lex Thomas will have to prepare for a potential role as a freshman if injuries hit the position group for a second consecutive season. OVERALL GRADE ★★★½ If Armstrong can return to his 2021 form alongside Anae, it would be an electric combination. Morris' development, plus any additional depth added to the roster via the transfer portal, will help define the ceiling of this position group. BY THE NUMBERS 7 The jersey number that MJ Morris will wear this season (he wore No. 16 last year) and also the number of touchdown passes he threw over a three-game stretch (Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Boston College) in 2022. 554 Brennan Armstrong's single-game passing yardage record at Virginia, set in a 59-39 loss to North Carolina in 2021. 6 Career 400-yard passing games for Armstrong, all in 2021 — UNC (554), Louis- ville (487), Pitt (487), Wake Forest (407), Illinois (405) and Virginia Tech (400). PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTER No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 5 Brennan Armstrong Gr. 6-2 210 Shelby, Ohio RESERVE No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 7 MJ Morris So. 6-2 210 Carrollton, Ga. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 12 Lex Thomas Fr. 5-11 190 Wake Forest, N.C. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER GRADUATE BRENNAN ARMSTRONG Armstrong heads into the fall extremely motivated after last season, when he tossed 7 touchdown passes, his lowest total as a starter, and a career-high 12 interceptions. Coordinator Robert Anae sees that hun- ger to improve and admires his competitive edge. "He's got a lot to prove, and that's just who he is," Anae said. "And then you put that situation in front of him, and that's just throwing gas on the fire." In an interview earlier this spring, Armstrong dis- cussed his excitement for his final season of college football. He wants to help Anae put together an offense similar to the one at Virginia that averaged 515.9 yards per game in 2021. The quarterback believes NC State is the right place to reach the career-high marks he achieved two years ago. "I just feel like I have some- thing to prove," Armstrong said. "I really wanted to put two great years together, and there's just a chip on my shoulder. I think this is the best place for me to prove that." PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN