Dave Doeren shares thoughts on NC State depth chart
NC State football coach Dave Doeren noted that the depth chart still has “competition going on,” but Doeren offered clues to how his team is preparing to line up ahead of next week’s opener. The Pack kicks off at Connecticut on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m., and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
For the past couple of seasons, the depth chart was fairly settled thanks to a veteran roster. This team had a few more questions, which Doeren noted made the preseason camp “really” different.
“I do believe this team has a huge chip on its shoulder,” Doeren added. “There’s a lot to prove. A lot of players that waited their turns.”
Here’s a rundown of some highlights from the NC State football depth chart during Doeren’s press conference:
• Quarterback Brennan Armstrong, a super senior transfer from Virginia, is in a “really good headspace.”
“He’s confident, he’s excited to play a game,” Dave Doeren noted.
Armstrong rushed for 552 yards and five touchdowns two seasons ago at Virginia. Doeren affirmed that his quarterback was not hit much in preseason practices, but the coach is looking forward to seeing Armstrong’s toughness as a runner in game action.
• The running backs, five of whom are listed on the NC State offense depth chart, “probably are one of our biggest strengths on the team,” Doeren noted.
• Doeren admitted that the receiving corps had the “biggest questions” on the NC State team, but he was complimentary of how veterans super senior Keyon Lesane and fourth-year junior Porter Rooks stepped up in camp.
Doeren also said that redshirt sophomore Julian Gray and sophomore Terrell Timmons Jr., are “neck and neck” on one side at outside receiver. Rice super senior transfer Bradley Rozner is working in the rotation with Lesane on the other side.
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“He’s just consistent every day,” Doeren said of Rozner.
Slot receiver duties will likely be handled by the trio of Rooks, true freshman Kevin “KC” Concepcion and fourth-year redshirt sophomore Jalen Coit.
• The offensive line is a little banged up for the opener, with super senior Oregon transfer Dawson Jaramillo lost for the year and redshirt sophomore Lyndon Cooper, a projected starter at guard and the likely top option as backup center, both out for the UConn game. Doeren confirmed that Cooper is expected to return for the NC State football home opener Sept. 9 vs. Notre Dame.
• On the defensive line, fourth-year junior Davin Vann, “is playing at a really high level.”
“He’s got a huge, huge attitude when he plays the game,” Doeren added about Vann. “Sometimes those things are hard for these guys to control. I think he’s really learned how to use the energy.”
• Doeren on multiple occasions praised super senior linebacker Jaylon Scott, who could take over for Drake Thomas after the latter left NC State with a year of eligibility remaining to turn pro.
• The NC State football recruiting class added two junior college prospects to the secondary that Doeren believes will have big futures in sophomore corner Rente Hinton and junior safety Bishop Fitzgerald.
Another newcomer, Old Dominion super senior transfer Robert Kennedy, has impressed at nickel.
“Robert’s super consistent,” Dave Doeren noted. “You would have thought he’d been here a long time, the way he’s practiced, all he understands. … He’s a gifted player to begin with, but he’s a really, really good learner in the classroom.”
