NC State QB Armstrong will get a second chance in his final season
Posted November 8, 2023 1:37 p.m. EST
Updated November 10, 2023 3:45 p.m. EST
Brennan Armstrong entered the football season, his first at NC State, as the unquestioned starting quarterback. The Virginia graduate transfer was reunited in Raleigh with offensive coordinator Robert Anae, with whom he enjoyed his breakout 2021 season.
But after five games and six interceptions, he found himself on the bench, demoted in favor of sophomore MJ Morris with the Wolfpack seeking an offensive spark after a 3-2 start.
Now, Armstrong will be back as NC State's starting quarterback when it visits Wake Forest on Saturday.
Morris, who went 3-1 as a starter after taking over for Armstrong, will redshirt this season and preserve a year of eligibility but not leave the program, his father told WRAL on Tuesday.
Armstrong impressed his teammates with how he handled the demotion.
"Like a grown ass man," junior cornerback Aydan White said Wednesday. "He put his head down, he’s worked and now he has another opportunity so I'm happy for him.”
Armstrong has played as a runner in several games since Morris became the starter. He has completed 94-of-160 passes for 971 yards on the season with five touchdowns and six interceptions. He is NC State's leading rusher with 337 yards and three touchdowns.
When NC State made the change, Doeren said that Armstrong handled it "as well as you can hope."
"My respect for him has always been high," Doeren said at the time.
Armstrong played in parts of five seasons at Virginia. In 2021, he threw for 4,449 yards and 31 touchdowns and added nine rushing touchdowns on the ground.
He did not replicate that success in 2022 under a new coaching staff. Armstrong passed for 2,210 yards and had seven touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
NCAA rules allow for players to appear in four regular-season games and still redshirt. In 2022, the NCAA allowed players to compete in a bowl game, even if it was their fifth game, and still maintain a redshirt season.
Morris has played in four games. NC State is bowl eligible.
