NC State benches star transfer QB Brennan Armstrong as Wolfpack look to reignite stagnant offense

NC State has benched star transfer quarterback Brennan Armstrong after a disappointing five-game stretch to open the 2023 season, Wolfpack trainer Dave Doeren introduced Monday. MJ Morris will get started in Armstrong’s position with NC State set for an out-of-conference sport towards Marshall in Week 6. 

“It’s clear we need a spark on that side of the ball,” Doeren said throughout his Monday press convention. 

Armstrong, who transferred to the Wolfpack after a hit profession at Virginia, has struggled mightily at his new house, finishing simply 58.8% of his passes for 971 yards with 5 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. The ultimate straw got here Friday in a 13-10 loss to Louisville the place Armstrong went 13-of-25 passing for 112 yards with two interceptions and misplaced a fumble. His 73.63 passer score towards the Cardinals was once the bottom as a beginning quarterback throughout his profession, which dates again to 2020.

The Wolfpack had prime hopes for Armstrong, who was once the No. 6 quarterback in ultimate offseason’s 247Sports transfer portal ratings. His struggles this season are sudden taking into consideration the hype that adopted him from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Raleigh, North Carolina. He was once a third-team All-ACC performer in 2021 after he threw for 4,449 yards with 31 touchdowns and rushed for 251 yards with 9 rankings at the floor. He was once named a finalist for the Manning Award as neatly as a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien Award following the common season.

The breakout efficiency in 2021 got here beneath offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who left for Syracuse after the season however reunited with Armstrong at NC State prior to this yr within the hopes of repeating their good fortune in combination.

Morris was once a three-star quarterback and the No. 417 total participant within the Class of 2022. The 6-foot-2, 192-pounder from Carrollton, Georgia, seemed in 5 video games ultimate yr for the Wolfpack, throwing for 648 yards with seven touchdowns. He additionally rushed for 88 yards with a speeding ranking. 

NC State hosts Marshall on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.