ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL KICKOFF

July 21, 2021

Brennan Armstrong

Virginia Cavaliers

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Brennan.

Q. How much more comfortable are you now going into your second year as a starter compared to last year?

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG: Yeah, I would say just a lot more comfortable. We got our five O-line returners. A lot of chemistry being built in the spring ballgame, just spring practices. Yeah, just games under my belt. I think games under my belt helps a lot.

Just a huge jump from first to second year already, just through spring ball, having that time with the receivers, just the guys. Yeah, just a lot, lot more comfortable.

Q. Very rare that a team brings two quarterbacks to this event. That says a lot about what coach thinks about you. Talk about the relationship between the two of you. What kind of challenges did the two you of filling some very big shoes from Bryce?

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG: Me and KT, man, when we jumped in together, he came in from Mississippi State, we started having our competition, just like any other place would. Once I got the spot, we had KT just start doing a lot of other different things.

Me and KT's relationship developed a lot through this past fall season. We were texting each other all the time, just like we're staying in there, hang in there, we're just going to keep pushing and pushing and pushing. We have some great texts. I actually will hold on to those for a long time.

Yeah, our relationship is a lot, a lot better than what it started off to be obviously. I'm super excited where we are now with him because he plays a huge impact in our offense.

Q. What does KT do for this offense, the ability to utilize you both, how multi-layered and dangerous does that make you?

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG: It's dangerous. It's hard to prepare for I feel like. With him being able to do a lot of stuff, him able to hop at quarterback, me maybe hop out of quarterback, little things allow that, just hard to prepare for. Different motions with him coming in the backfield, leaving the backfield. Just a lot of stuff that can go on. He can to it all. Run, throw, rush, it doesn't matter.

It's just a hard thing for teams to prepare for. We're going to use that to the best of our ability to make that hard for teams to prepare for.

Q. Going into the season a lot of people thought Lavel was going to be the number one target. His injury, things are shaken up in the wide receiver corps. Who has stood out that you've been able to connect with? What role do you see Billy Kemp continuing to play, considering the production he had last season?

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG: Like I said, spring ball has been huge for us. Ra'Shaun Henry, Tayvion Wicks, Jelani Woods, Billy Kemp always. We've just created a huge chemistry, a lot of chemistry being built.

Ra'Shaun surprised a lot of us, I think everybody can say that. Ra'Shaun Henry surprised a bunch of us in spring ball, made a lot of balls, a lot of big plays.

Billy Kemp is going to always be there. Does what he does, he's going to be in every game no matter the highs or lows of games, he's always going to be there. Can always trust in him.

Ra'Shaun Henry was a huge surprise for us. Pretty excited to see him on the field.

Q. In 2019 you missed four games due to injury. In 2020 you were named a co-captain. What does this say about your approach to the game even while sidelined that earned you a spot as captain?

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG: I would just say I grew up in a small town, worked pretty hard, just have kind of what I do, work ethic is kind of what I try to stand for. I work hard. That just speaks for itself. I felt like the team kind of saw that. I guess that's kind of how I earned the co-captain award last year.

I think, yeah, just working hard always gets you where you need to be. Sometimes words doesn't always speak. Obviously actions speak louder than words. Yeah, kind of what I stand by.