Dave Doeren 'really proud' of Brennan Armstrong for helping lead NC State to win over Miami
It has been a tough season for NC State quarterback Brennan Armstrong. However, the Virginia transfer was able to provide a spark for the Wolfpack on Saturday against Miami.
Armstrong rushed for 51 yards against the Hurricanes, while helping NC State to a 20-6 victory.
Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren was happy for his senior quarterback, who was benched in favor of MJ Morris earlier in the season.
“Super proud and happy for Brennan. He’s taken a lot of unnecessary criticism. And it was great to hear the crowd cheer for him tonight. And our team has been cheering for him,” Doeren said. “That meant a lot to me and to him.”
Armstrong had five touchdown passes and six interceptions over the first five games of the season, before Morris took over at quarterback.
The Wolfpack have still used Brennan Armstrong in rushing situations some the past few games, with mixed results. Against Marshall and Clemson, Armstrong carried the ball a total of four times for zero yards. He then broke out for 51 yards, while averaging 6.4 yards per carry against Miami.
“He’s tough, man. He’s got grit. He’s got fight. And he’s a really good football player,” Doeren said. “Having the ability to run him and use him on offense and bring some things to the table.”
NC State fans booed Armstrong earlier this season, leading star linebacker Payton Wilson to take up for the senior quarterback.
“I love Wolfpack Nation to death, do not get me wrong. I love them to death. They are the best fans in the country and I love MJ to death and he played some of the best ball from a quarterback that I’ve seen at this school today, but we’ve got to stop booing Brennan,” Wilson said after a win over Marshall earlier this year.
“He is hard-nosed. He’s a great person. Doesn’t matter. Just imagine if that was your kid out there on that field in front of 70,000. Let’s get behind him Wolfpack Nation when he’s in there. He’s a good-hearted kid, loves God, does nothing but pat everybody on the back and play hard for us every single day. So, continue to uplift him Wolfpack Nation. I love y’all.”
Fans weren’t booing on Saturday as Armstrong helped contribute to the big victory.
Doeren loves the way Armstrong and Morris have bonded and been committed to helping NC State win games. The Wolfpack are 6-3 and have won two straight games.
“I’m really proud of MJ and him and how they work together and they respect each other and how hard they work for each other in that room. It’s pretty awesome,” Doeren said. “And coach [Kurt] Roper deserves a lot of credit for that – the culture he has in that room.”