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By all accounts, NC State QB Brennan Armstrong embraced backup role

On3 imageby:Ethan McDowell•11/08/23•

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Brennan Armstrong
© Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Brennan Armstrong spent the past 11 months at the center of a Wolfpack whirlwind. The graduate quarterback transferred to NC State, won the starting job, struggled in 5 starts and then took on a backup role after the coaches promoted sophomore MJ Morris. 

He handled that decision with maturity, kept up his responsibilities as a team captain and continued to support the program in any way possible. The sixth-year signal-caller played in a variety of roles against Miami, leading the team with 8 carries for 51 yards. 

While there is still no official word from the athletic department, Morris is redshirting this season, per reporting from TheWolfpacker.com. Armstrong has embraced NC State ever since arriving in January. 

Wolfpack junior cornerback Aydan White said the signal-caller handled the past month “like a grown man.”

“He put his head down, he worked and now he has another opportunity. I’m happy for him,” White said Wednesday. 

Head coach Dave Doeren complimented the graduate student after his team-leading rushing performance against the Hurricanes. Armstrong played 10 snaps in that contest and made the most of them.

On a critical third-and-two from NC State’s 30-yard line, he took the snap on an option play, found a lane and converted the first down up to the 45-yard line. Miami tacked 15 more yards onto the play after an unnecessary roughness penalty.  

NC State ended that 97-yard drive with a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown that extended the Pack’s lead to two scores. 

“He definitely gave us some valuable yards in the game, and the one option play that he ducked up inside was a huge play in the game,” Doeren said during Monday’s press conference.

“He’s tough and resilient, and it was great to hear the crowd cheer for him as the game went on. I think they were really pulling for him to get in the end zone there at the end. I can’t say enough about his perseverance.”

Offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who recruited Armstrong at UVA and has worked with him for five of his six collegiate seasons, effusively praised the quarterback after seeing how he handled his backup responsibilities. 

“Of all my years, that’s the best, most stand-up approach to becoming a good teammate that I’ve ever been around,” Anae said Oct. 10.

Coming out of the program’s 48-41 win over Marshall, he also hinted at an expanded role. Armstrong has rushed for 51 yards on 12 carries since then. 

“There’s still stuff with an attack-type running quarterback. Our team needs that,” Anae said the same day. “The best is yet to come.”

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