NC State news and views: Dave Doeren’s pre-UConn press conference

NC State begins its 2023 football season Thursday, Aug. 31, on the road against UConn. Two days away from kickoff, head coach Dave Doeren broke down the matchup.

He covered topics that included an availability update on a key member of the Wolfpack offense, an impressive two-back rushing rotation for the Huskies and Connecticut’s new starting quarterback.

Here are a few of those quotes and with a look into what makes them notable.

News: Doeren shared an update on graduate students Trent Pennix and Chris Toudle, who were both listed as potential starters at tight end on the initial depth chart.

“Trent has been in and out of camp with some minor things,” Doeren said. “He’s been great this week, so it’s good to have him back in there, but he hasn’t been able to go through the entire thing like Chris Toudle has. Should have both of them going into the first game, and we will kind of build on it as we go.”

Analysis: Pennix battled injuries through most of last season but, when healthy, was a really versatile and explosive member of the Wolfpack offense. His health is paramount for this year’s squad, so it is good to hear that he is healthy for week one.

The buzz out of the preseason around Toudle has also been super positive. He is another athlete who can play a variety of roles and has the potential to thrive in Robert Anae’s offense. Earlier this week, the tight end said this is probably his favorite year so far out of his five with the program.

News: Doeren discussed the impact of playing UConn on the road.

“There’s always home field advantage,” Doeren said. “They were 5-1 at home last year. We’ve been a really good home team. When you go to someone else’s environment, you have to get used to it, a foreign locker room, the stadium is different, the sidelines may be tighter or looser as far as the space down there, you’re in a hotel instead of your own bed, so there are some different things about playing on the road.”

Analysis: Connecticut won 5 of its final 7 regular season games after losing to NC State last year. Wins over Boston College, a ranked Liberty team and UMass all came at home. The Huskies finished the year 1-5 on the road, so last year’s squad was clearly more comfortable in Pratt and Whitney Stadium. NC State recorded a 2-3 record on the road, including a narrow season-opening win over East Carolina.

News: Doeren shared his thoughts on Joe Fagnano, UConn’s senior starting quarterback.

“He’s a good quarterback. He knows their offense. He’s got good size, poise in the pocket, he is a guy that can move around. He’s not necessarily a guy who is going to run all day on you, but he runs well enough to hurt you. He and the offensive coordinator have a history together, so there’s some similarity there, certainly similar to what we have with [quarterback Brennan Armstrong] and [offensive coordinator Robert Anae], where they’re going to be able to work back on games they’ve coached and played in together and have some recall in their game planning.”

Analysis: Fagnano is an incoming transfer from Maine. He played four seasons at the FBS level and, during the 2022 season, passed for 2,231 yards, 15 passing touchdowns and 6 interceptions. The signal-caller also completed 57.1 percent of his throws. Sophomore quarterback Zion Turner started most of last year for the Huskies, wrapping up his true freshman campaign with 1,407 passing touchdowns yards on a 57.8 completion percentage, 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Fagnano added 296 yards on the ground, compared to 262 for Turner. The Huskies should take a step forward in the passing game, but expect them to remain focused on the run.

News: Speaking of the UConn rushing attack, Doeren thinks very highly of running backs Devontae Houston, a junior, and Victor Rosa, a freshman.

“They’re a really good running football team,” Doeren said. “They’re a physical team on offense that doesn’t turn the ball over, they rushed the ball well, they had really talented tailbacks. I think those two backs could play in our league for anybody. They’re really good players.”

Analysis: Rosa led the Huskies in rushing last year with 636 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Houston logged 84 carries and recorded an extremely productive 6.9 yards per carry, finishing the year with 3 touchdowns. They are both back this year and will run behind a talented offensive line. NC State allowed just 100.7 rushing yards per game last year, so the Pack defense vs. UConn’s ground attack will be one of the key matchups Thursday night.

News: Doeren pointed out that UConn is bringing back nearly every defensive starter from last year’s squad.

“Defensively, they got better and better as the year went on, and they returned 10 of 11 starters,” Doeren said. “You can see they just got used to what [head coach Jim Mora] wants in a team, and they’re a physical football team.”

Analysis: Senior linebacker Jackson Mitchell is back as the star of this defense after recording 140 tackles. Keep an eye on Eric Watts as well. The senior defensive lineman recorded 7 sacks last year.

The post NC State news and views: Dave Doeren’s pre-UConn press conference appeared first on On3.