Dave Doeren hopes MJ Morris provides the spark that NC State needs on offense

NC State head coach Dave Doeren decided to make a quarterback change this week after initially handing the keys of his offense to Virginia transfer Brennan Armstrong. Armstrong spent five seasons at Virginia before transferring to NC State this offseason, and after starting the first five games of the season for the Wolfpack, Doeren is going with youth over experience starting MJ Morris this week against Marshall.

There’s no question that the Wolfpack offense has struggled so far this season with Armstrong under center, and ahead of Morris’ first start of the season, Doeren explained what he’s seen from Morris that gives him confidence.

“Ever since he’s been here he’s come to practice with great energy, he’s always done that,” Doeren said. “And so each week since Coach Anae’s got here you can see him growing in the offense, that part is now second thought to him. In the spring he was learning it, now he knows it.”

The Wolfpack hired offensive coordinator Robert Anae this offseason, who served in the same role at Virginia where he coached Armstrong during the first four seasons of his college career.

Armstrong did not particularly live up to the expectations of playing in an offense he was familiar with completing 58.8% of his passes for 971 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions through five games.

NC State planned on redshirting Morris this season as he sat behind a veteran quarterback and better learned Anae’s offensive scheme. But following Armstrong’s struggles and the promise Morris showed last season as a true freshman, Doeren hopes that he can energize the Wolfpack offense.

“But he’s always been an encourager to guys around him and he’s got a positive outlook, the way he can throw the football obviously he can do that pretty well so there’s certain things that he brings to the table,” Doern said. “But I think more than anything right now it’s just he’s in a really good headspace, he’s excited, and I think that’s the spark we need.”

Morris’ number was called last season following an injury to starting quarterback Devin Leary and thrived, throwing for 265 yards and three touchdown passes off the bench to help lead NC State to a win over Virginia Tech. He threw for three touchdowns again the following week in his first career start versus Wake Forrest where he led the Wolfpack to yet another win, but unfortunately suffered an injury in their next game against Boston College and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Doern and the Wolfpack are hoping Morris can deliver this season like he did last year, which starts this Saturday as NC State hosts Marshall at 2:00 p.m. ET in a game airing on CW Network.