NC State QB Morris to redshirt, not leaving the program
Posted November 7, 2023 1:25 p.m. EST
Updated November 9, 2023 11:24 p.m. EST
NC State starting quarterback MJ Morris will not play the rest of the year, opting to preserve a year of eligibility with a redshirt season, and is not leaving the program, his father told WRAL on Tuesday.
"No one said he is leaving the program," Eddie Morris told WRAL. "Nobody said he is leaving the program. If he would have left the program, he would have left in January and he would have left in May. He had plenty of options."
Morris, a sophomore, was named the starting quarterback on Oct. 2 before the Wolfpack's game against Marshall. He is 3-1 as the starter , including wins over Clemson and Miami, since replacing Virginia transfer Brennan Armstrong.
Morris was at practice on Tuesday. He was listed as the starting quarterback on the team's weekly game notes that were released Monday afternoon.
The plan entering the season had been for Morris to redshirt while Armstrong played quarterback. But the Wolfpack's offensive struggles led head coach Dave Doeren to make the change.
Morris has completed 63-of-115 passes for 719 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He's also thrown five interceptions. His passing yardage has declined each game.
He played in five games in 2022, including three starts. Morris is from Carrollton, Georgia. He played three plays against Syracuse, costing him the opportunity to redshirt.
Armstrong is expected to become the starter once again. The other quarterbacks on the roster are freshmen Lex Thomas, Ethan Rhodes and Cole Wilson.
Armstrong has appeared in eight games, but has not thrown a pass since Morris became the team's starter. He has been on the field as a runner with eight carries for 51 yards in the Wolfpack's victory against Miami.
He has completed 94-of-160 passes for 971 yards and five touchdown. He's also thrown six interceptions. Armstrong is the team's leading rusher with 337 yards and three touchdowns on 81 attempts.
NC State (6-3. 3-2) has three regular-season games remaining: at Wake Forest on Saturday, at Virginia Tech on Nov. 18 and vs. North Carolina on Nov. 25.
The program is bowl eligible already.
