Miami Hurricanes 2023 season preview: Game 9 NC State
Dating back to 2008, the Miami Hurricanes have defeated NC State in four consecutive contests and will look to extend that streak to five as they head to Carter-Finley Stadium on Nov. 4.
While Miami has had success against the Wolfpack as of late, NC State is a program that has churned out three nine-game winning seasons in the last five years and is a program the Hurricanes should not take lightly.
Under center and leading the Wolfpack this season will be former Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who reunites with his former offensive coordinator, Robert Anae. Previously, when the duo was together at UVA, Armstrong thrived under his guidance and threw for 4,449 yards with 31 TDs and 10 INTs, adding 251 rush yards and nine more scores in 2021. Now that they are back together, they will hope to replicate the success they had as Armstrong looks to replace last year’s Wolfpack QB starter, Devin Leary, who transferred to Kentucky.
At receiver, the Wolfpack suffered a blow by losing WR Devin Carter (transferring to West Virginia; 406 yards, 2 TDs). In his absence, the team added Clemson WR transfer Dacari Collins this off-season. Collins is expected to start right away, and he had 221 yards as a freshman in 2021 before deciding to transfer three games into the 2022 season. In the backfield, RB Jordan Houston is one of the five offensive starters from last year and will look to build off a 544-yard season in 2022.
Defensively, after allowing just 19.2 points per game, the Wolfpack will be without 2-time All-ACC DT Cory Durden (27 tackles, 2.5 TFL) and LBs Isaiah Moore (82 tackles, 15 QB hurries) and Drake Thomas (team-high 101 tackles, 7.5 sacks).
Despite those losses, NC State brings back five key returners in LB Payton Wilson, who had 82 tackles, 12.5 TFL, and 4.5 sacks, first-team All-ACC cornerback Aydan White (4 INTs, 9 PBU) and CB Shyheim Battle (2 INTs), and DL Davin Vann 8 TFL, 4.5 sacks), Savion Jackson (3 TFL in 7 games) and C.J. Clark (3 sacks, 4 QB hurries) which should be a great test for the Hurricanes offense under Shannon Dawson.
When looking at the bigger picture, one of the major keys to victory in this matchup will be whether the Hurricanes’ offense can produce against one of the top defenses they will likely face in 2023.
While Armstrong reuniting with Anae is a storyline to watch as well as whether Miami defensive coordinator Lance Guidry can slow them down, it will be intriguing to see just how far Miami’s offense has progressed to this point in the season and whether it can carry help them to victory in front of a hostile NC State crowd.
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