NC State QB MJ Morris is ready to seize the moment

NC State head football coach Dave Doeren met with quarterback MJ Morris Sunday night. During that meeting, the sophomore learned he is now the Wolfpack’s starting quarterback, and he wanted to let his parents know before anyone else. 

For the second time in a calendar year, the second-year signal-caller is taking over the program’s QB1 job. Morris called his mother and father to share the news. 

“I called them and told them I had a meeting with Coach Doeren,” Morris said. 

“They were like ‘What happened? Did you get in trouble?’” Morris’ parents asked. 

“No, he told me I was going to be the starting quarterback,” Morris replied. 

Morris said his parents were obviously happy, and they shared some words of encouragement with the sophomore starter. 

“They said, ‘God’s got your back. Just go out there and do what you do best.”

Just a few months after moving into his freshman year dorm last year, Morris was thrown into the ACC fire. Prior to his first extended appearance against Virginia Tech, he took on the same mindset that has worked well for him this fall. 

He put in the time and effort necessary to be Wolfpack’s QB1. He wanted to be ready if the the coaches called his name to fill that role. During his freshman year, he scored 8 touchdowns and showed the talent that made him a highly touted recruit out of high school. 

Behind the scenes, he spent hours in the film room studying and preparing for the ACC stage. That approach carried over into this season. 

“Even when I’m not in, even in the film room, I’m always preparing like I’m the starter,” Morris said. “When I go home, I’m watching the film.” 

Morris is looking forward to taking the field at Carter-Finley Stadium for his first snaps since the 2022 Boston College game. In the months following that performance, the quarterback said he worked on speeding up his game mentally. He now feels a full second faster on the field. 

After quickly processing the offense and learning about Robert Anae’s system in the spring, the sophomore said he had the scheme down by the middle of the summer. He met with Anae and graduate student quarterback Brennan Armstrong as much as possible over the past 10 months, and that is paying off now. 

“Now, I feel really comfortable in this offense,” Morris said. “I feel that I can go out and execute it to the best of my ability.”

Armstrong and Morris grew quite close in the Wolfpack quarterback room this year. The sophomore said the change on the depth chart has not altered the dynamic of their relationship. He made it clear that he really appreciated the work Armstrong put in to help him learn this system.

“At the end of the day, we’re brothers,” Morris said. “We support each other. I love him; he loves me.”

With the offense now in Morris’ hands, he showed up a few minutes late to media availability because he was putting in extra work with the receivers. He broke down where the Wolfpack will improve against Marshall. 

“I would say we’ve just got to play with a lot more energy, a lot more intensity, a lot more emotion, and that’s what we’re going to do Saturday,” Morris said. “We’re just going to have fun with it.”

He expects some nerves before he takes the first snap, but the sophomore said he will be “locked-in” after that. 

“If a football player tells you they’re not a little jittery, a little nervous on the first play or snap, then they’re probably lying to you,” Morris said. 

For a true sophomore, Morris takes a solid amount of experience into his first start of the fall. He knows those game reps will help but also pointed out that his effort in practice will determine his success against the Thundering Herd. 

Morris said this week feels a little bit like déjà vu from last season, and he is ready to make the most of this moment. 

“I’m just ready for my opportunity,” Morris said. “I’ve been waiting for it.”