NC State defenders weigh in what makes OC Robert Anae's offense so challenging

Ahead of the 2023 season, the NC State offense is going through a transition. That includes bringing in a new transfer quarterback, Brennan Armstrong, and a new offensive coordinator in Robert Anae.

During the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff, star NC State defender Payton Wilson explained what has made Anae’s offenses good and tough to practice against.

“It’s tough,” said Payton Wilson. “Coach Anae, I’ve been in college a long time and it’s one of the craziest offenses that I’ve gone against and going against it every day just gets more complicated once he figures out our defense.”

Robert Anae is a longtime college football offensive coordinator. He started as a coordinator at BYU before eventually following Bronco Mendenhall to Virginia. He then spent the 2022 season at Syracuse before making the move to NC State.

“It’s tough, when we went up to Syracuse last year it kind of showed how good an offensive coordinator he is, and then just practicing against it every day just kind of brings out his brilliance. How brilliant he is and what he can scheme up so fast.”

Anae and Armstrong actually worked together before getting to NC State, when they were both at Virginia. Together, Armstrong thrived and Anae is a big reason why he ended up going to NC State.

“It’s pretty unique honestly. I remember, freshman and sophomore year I didn’t really like him that much, you know? He really got on me and I was young. And then it started to transition to more of like just a relationship instead of I’m being told what to do and being yelled at,” Armstrong said of Anae this offseason.

“I took the feedback, took the coaching and it’s grown a lot. Now it’s funny because we just sit around and you know, we’ll do some offensive stuff, put game planning in for practices and things like that. And he talks to me like a coach, but just like a normal guy.”

Robert Anae was impressed with Spring practice

Following Spring practice, Robert Anae explained how impressed he’s been with the offense.

“I’m basing this off of other stops I’ve been at, this is probably the best start of all of them. I’m talking the four weeks of spring, this is probably the best start from that snapshot point,” Anae said.

“A lot of the improvement is player owned and player driven, so I’m very interested, when we start fall camp, to see where that starting point is.”