Another note of importance - Former 5 star LT Rob Crisp was granted a 6th year of eligibility by the NCAA. He missed last year with an undisclosed injury but will return to work in the summer. After a year plagued by poor offensive line play, this could prove to be big for State if he can stay healthy.

Another note of importance - Former 5 star LT Rob Crisp was granted a 6th year of eligibility by the NCAA. He missed last year with an undisclosed injury but will return to work in the summer. After a year plagued by poor offensive line play, this could prove to be big for State if he can stay healthy.

The skinny: There is actually some encouraging precedent here. A quarterback undervalued by Florida’s coaching staff decides to transfer, moving to a dormant program and sitting out a year. While outsiders wonder if he’s up to the task of running an offense, coaches rave about the work he has done behind the scenes. When he finally gets his chance, he quickly blossoms into an overnight sensation.

Brissett brings a lot to the table. He’s big, athletic and a playmaker. At Florida, his chances to shine were sporadic and short-lived. At NC State, he’ll have the luxury of a full year of study under his belt and the unwavering confidence of his head coach. At Florida, he was perhaps not an ideal fit for Will Muschamp’s offense. At NC State, he’s exactly the type of quarterback Doeren is looking for.

[i]The skinny: There is actually some encouraging precedent here. A quarterback undervalued by Florida’s coaching staff decides to transfer, moving to a dormant program and sitting out a year. While outsiders wonder if he’s up to the task of running an offense, coaches rave about the work he has done behind the scenes. When he finally gets his chance, he quickly blossoms into an overnight sensation.

Can Brissett be the next Cam Newton? That’s obviously an unfair comparison, but NC State certainly hopes it’s one that doesn’t sound completely absurd by the end of 2014.

Brissett brings a lot to the table. He’s big, athletic and a playmaker. At Florida, his chances to shine were sporadic and short-lived. At NC State, he’ll have the luxury of a full year of study under his belt and the unwavering confidence of his head coach. At Florida, he was perhaps not an ideal fit for Will Muschamp’s offense. At NC State, he’s exactly the type of quarterback Doeren is looking for.

No sooner had the 2013 season ended than Doeren named Brissett his starter. Incumbent Pete Thomas decided to transfer soon after. Freshman Jalan McClendon doesn’t arrive until the fall, meaning the spring will be all about Brissett, and that’s far more latitude than he got in Gainesville.

The confidence of his coach and the template set by Newton certainly won’t be enough to ensure Brissett’s success. Even if he’s outstanding in 2014, NC State has a long way to go in several areas (13th in rushing defense in the ACC, allowed the second-most sacks in the conference, finished 10th in scoring offense). But it also means there’s a low bar for success for Brissett. NC State’s quarterbacks mustered just eight touchdowns, tossed 11 interceptions and completed fewer than 55 percent of their passes in ACC play last year. It’s hard to imagine Doeren would have so much confidence in his new starter if he wasn’t certain Brissett could far eclipse those pedestrian tota