What NC State football’s Brennan Armstrong, Robert Anae bring to the Wolfpack
CHARLOTTE — NC State football coach Dave Doeren is expecting quarterback Brennan Armstrong and offensive coordinator Robert Anae to provide the Wolfpack with a significant boost.
“I think the ceiling is being the best in the league. That's our goal. We can't control the stats and all the things outside of the ACC. We got to try to win the ACC,” Doeren said Thursday at ACC Kickoff.
“Our goal is always going to be to be the best statistically in the areas that we consider important. So I know Coach Anae has his pillars on offense that he preaches to these guys that they're going to be working hard to attain.
“. … So there's a lot of things you look at that I don't think at this phase of the season you can ever say this is what we're going to be. You have to go earn it. You have to get on the grass and go play and get in these games and see who is better."
DOEREN'S FUTURE WITH THE WOLFPACK: What NC State football coach Dave Doeren said about his future with the Wolfpack
NC STATE'S TOUGHEST GAMES: Who will be NC State football’s toughest opponents in 2023? Ranking all 12 by difficulty
Following the departure of Devin Leary to Kentucky, Armstrong made the move from Virginia and joined the Wolfpack as a graduate student in January. The southpaw broke single-season records at Virginia with 4,449 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2021 under Anae.
A three-time nominee for the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach, Anae's offenses have been consistently ranked among the nation's top 25 in several categories during his 16 years as an offensive coordinator.
Under former offensive coordinator Tim Beck, NC State was 94th in the nation in points per game out of 131 FBS teams in 2022. Armstrong and Anae are out to change that in Raleigh.
When he started his career, Armstrong said he “used to hate” Anae, but now they have a “great relationship.” They'll get their first chance to show off that relationship on Aug. 31 at UConn.
“He just lets me be me. I don't feel confined. I don't feel like I'm locked up at all. I am just allowed to go play how I want to play,” Armstrong said.
More from ACC Media Days: Heisman hopeful Drake Maye on never-ending quest to improve for UNC football
“I think he has a good idea of how I play. I have a good idea how he thinks. … He just allows me to play free and just lets me go out there and play the game and have fun.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What to expect from NC State football's offense with Brennan Armstrong
