In a bit of shocking news, NC State Wolfpack QB MJ Morris has announced his intentions to redshirt the remaining games of the 2023 season. Morris, who was inserted into the NC State lineup to boost the Wolfpack’s offensive output, has played in four contests and will not sit out as to preserve a year of eligibility.
Redshirting is not new, but the timing of this is unique as Morris had just been placed as the starting quarterback, making it now a question of why Morris is redshirting now?
MJ Morris to Redshirt, But Why?
The news is there and the original why makes sense. Morris is set to redshirt to preserve a year of eligibility. But he’s led NC State to a rejuvenated stretch over the past four weeks and led to a 3-1 record for the Wolfpack.
MORE: Redshirting 101
He was playing in place of Brennan Armstrong, but contrary to prior reports about the news, Morris didn’t “win” the job over Armstrong, head coach Dave Doeren inserted Morris into the starting lineup to try and spark his offense.
Perhaps Morris wants to keep his year of eligibility as the Wolfpack have been eliminated from the ACC Championship.
Maybe it’s because this was the plan all along for his 2023 season.
Or, how about this: Morris wants to hold on to a year of eligibility for his next institution and is likely to hit the transfer portal?
The options for him to transfer are certainly there and he would hit the transfer portal as the victor of such NC State wins over Clemson and Miami in doing so.
Morris would likely be a hot commodity in the transfer portal with his dynamic passing and dual-threat ability. He wasn’t quite his best in what we’ve seen him over the stretch of games he started this season, but his big-play ability is certainly there.
The NC State offense does him little favors, asking him to throw short regularly, but that’s not his game.
Morris is at his best, throwing darts over linebackers or squeezing balls into tight windows on the outside. He’s got sound mechanics despite his long release and an ability with his legs that seems like he’s yet to unlock.
Either way you slice it, whether Morris is set to return to NC State or hit the portal, he’ll enter the 2024 season as a redshirt sophomore and one of the most interesting quarterbacks out there.