Connect with us

NC State Football

Brennan Armstrong’s Grade Against Wake Forest was the 3rd Highest in Week 11

Published

6 months ago

on

Brennan Armstrong’s 2023 narrative is the making of a movie.

After coming to Raleigh for his final year of eligibility to reunite with Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae, expectations were high. Sure, he didn’t play well in 2022, but there was reason for optimism.

Armstrong started the first 5 games of the season, and the results were less than desirable. The Wolfpack offense was anemic, and Armstrong didn’t look like the player from 2021. In those 5 games, his Passing Efficiency Rating was a painful 112.54. He had thrown 6 interceptions to go along with his 5 touchdown passes.

I was the guy that wrote the article “The Brennan Armstrong Experiment Needs to be Over after the Louisville loss.” After 5 games, it was clear things weren’t working, and a change needed to be made. Something needed to be done to try to bring some life to the Wolfpack offense. The NC State coaches concurred, and inserted Sophomore MJ Morris into the starting role.

After 4 games at the helm, and leading NC State to a 3-1 record in that span, Morris decided to redshirt the remainder of the season, after the Wolfpack’s win over Miami.

Even if Morris didn’t make the decision to redshirt, the reality is the MJ Morris experiment wasn’t working either. His numbers were down in every single category from the year before. Sure, NC State beat Clemson and Miami, but it was the defense that carried the Wolfpack across the finish line. The Wolfpack averaged 216.5 yards of total offense in those two games. Morris completed 53.6% of his passes against the Tigers and the Hurricanes.

In those 4 games that Morris played, Armstrong continued in his role as captain. He was a model teammate. He was booed by fans when he was brought out in a goal line package against Marshall, but that didn’t stop him from doing whatever was asked of him. Armstrong was brought in to strictly run the ball, or serve as a distraction or decoy, yet there was still a smile on his face after running the ball.

In a whirlwind of events, Armstrong found himself back in the role of QB1 this past Saturday against Wake Forest, and the results were incredible.

As you can see below, Armstrong posted the 3rd highest grade by a Quarterback in all of college football this past week, according to ProFootballFocus.

Image

Armstrong’s grade of 93.0 was his highest graded performance since Week 2 of the 2021 season. He completed 12 of his 17 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. Armstrong also rushed the ball for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Do I think Armstrong deserved to be benched after Louisville? Yes. Do I think MJ Morris played much better than Armstrong? No.

I’m not sure how Armstrong will finish the 3 remaining games, but I couldn’t be happier for a young man who has handled an extremely challenging year with extreme class. I won’t soon forget how Brennan Armstrong handled himself this year, no matter how he finishes things out.

With that being said, after Morris’ decision, it is clear that the players have rallied around Armstrong. It’s apparent he has his head on straight. Thankfully, schematically NC State is running a much more creative and nuanced offense now, in comparison to when Armstrong started the season.

I’m completely here for Part 2 of the Brennan Armstrong experiment. It might just have the makings of something special.

Related Topics:

Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NC State Football

Colorado DT Transfer Chazz Wallace is Taking an Official Visit to NC State Tomorrow

Published

3 hours ago

on

May 6, 2024

By

NC State has offered Colorado Defensive Tackle Transfer Chazz Wallace (6’2″/295), and he confirmed with me that he will be taking an Official Visit to Raleigh tomorrow.

Wallace played in 10 games for Coach Prime this past season, starting in 4. He finished with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 56.4.

Prior to Colorado, Wallace spent his first three years at Old Dominion.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

NC State Offers FCS DT Brandon Lane

Published

12 hours ago

on

May 6, 2024

By

NC State offered Stephen F. Austin (FCS) Transfer Defensive Tackle Brandon Lane (6’3″/300) yesterday.

Lane started in 6 of the 11 games he played in for Stephen F. Austin this past season. He finished the year with 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 74.6, which ranked 4th on the Lumberjacks Defense. His 79.9 Run Defense Grade ranked 3rd on the team. In 2022, Lane played 7 games as a reserve for Stephen F. Austin, recording 11 tackles 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Lane spent his first two collegiate seasons at South Dakota State (2000-21). In 2000, he played in 1 game. In 2021, he played in 3 games as a reserve for the Jackrabbits. The 2000 season was the Covid Year, and the 2021 season was his redshirt year. As a result, Lane still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Around a week-and-a-half ago, Lane committed to Michigan St., but then he decommitted from the Spartans on May 2nd.

I don’t think Michigan St. is necessarily off the table, and he has visited Washington and West Virginia.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

Published

3 days ago

on

May 3, 2024

By

Congratulations to the 7 NC State Football Players that just graduated this Spring.

Image

2024 Football Spring Graduates

Linebacker Devon Betty (1 year of eligibility)

Defensive End Davin Vann (1 year of eligibility)

Cornerback Aydan White (1 year of eligibility)

Offensive Guard Anthony Carter Jr. (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Matt McCabe (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Tackle Patrick Matan (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Brendan Lawson (no longer on the roster)

Continue Reading

NC State Football

Proposed Bill in the NC House Would Require NC State & UNC To Play One Another, as well as ECU, UNCC and App St.

Published

3 days ago

on

May 3, 2024

By

A bill has been proposed by members of the North Carolina House of Representatives that would force NC State and UNC to play one another, as well as East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

According to House Bill 965, which you can read here in full, NC State and UNC would be required to play one another annually in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball. The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels would also be forced to play a game annually in all three sports against either ECU, UNC-Charlotte or App St. Every six years, NC State and UNC would be required to have played a home and away game against each of the three school in all three sports.

Here’s the exact wording from the proposed bill:

Competition Required. – A high-enrollment institution shall do all of the following in each eligible sport: (1) Every academic year, play at least one home or one away game against (i) another high-enrollment institution and (ii) an eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. (2) Every six academic years, play at least one home and one away game against each eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. A high-enrollment institution shall alternate home and away games that are scheduled against the same eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution.

For glossary of terms being referenced above:

For the purposes of this bill, “High-enrollment institutions” = NC State and UNC, while “Eligible constituent institutions” = East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

It’s worth noting that NC State already has games schedule against each of these teams home-and-away in Football between now and 2031.

2025 – East Carolina (H)

2025 – @ App St.

2026 – App St. (H)

2028 – @ East Carolina

2030 – Charlotte (H)

2031 – @ Charlotte

What are your thoughts?

For more details, check out this article at WRAL.

Continue Reading