By William Qualkinbush.

The comparison seemed out of place, but none of the Clemson coaches cared to dismiss it.

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston is a talented player, one many feel is in an elite class. Yet, in preparing to face North Carolina State this week, members of the Tiger staff have compared Wolfpack quarterback Jacoby Brissett to Winston with absolute seriousness. Head Coach Dabo Swinney said it first about the SEC transfer, then Brent Venables—the Tigers’ defensive coach tasked with stopping Brissett—echoed that sentiment.

“I haven’t seen the quarterback from Florida, but I can’t imagine him being better than this guy,” Venables said. “He’s a pretty good player, really good.”

Brissett came from Gainesville to Raleigh to play in new Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren’s up-tempo offense, and so far, he has flourished. N.C. State leads the ACC in total offense and is second in scoring. Brissett leads the conference with a 13-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and is the league’s third-rated passer. His big, strong frame allows him to keep plays alive when they break down, perhaps the skill that most frustrates defensive coaches about an opposing quarterback.

All of this culminates in a busy week for Clemson’s defense getting ready to face the Wolfpack offense, which scored 41 points and gained 520 yards against top-ranked Florida State last week. After that game ended, the Tigers summarily gave up more than 300 yards after halftime to North Carolina in a 50-35 victory that still left a bad taste in Venables’ mouth.

“For a couple of guys, I think it was humbling,” he said. “I appreciate the responsibility that was taken there. We’ll go back and go to work again. Hopefully, we won’t have those types of lapses.”

Schematically, Venables is concerned with the way the Wolfpack operates. He has a history with Doeren in coaching circles and is familiar with the way he operates. Last season, the Tigers held the Wolfpack offense down for most of a 26-14 win in Raleigh, but there were some tense moments for Venables as the game got tight and some big-play opportunities were missed by N.C. State.

“He’s an old linebacker coach himself, and a defensive coordinator,” Venables said of Doeren, the second-year coach. “He knows things that can stress out a defense, so he’s going to put those things in the offensive gameplan.”

Venables says the Wolfpack will use more different personnel groupings and formations than anyone else the Tigers will see this year. He believes Brissett’s presence will better allow them to open up the playbook, especially in the game’s first possession when Doeren likes to push the pace.

“They’ll have all kinds of exotics and things that we haven’t worked out in those first 15 plays, so everybody bring their mouthpiece and brace yourself,” Venables said. “Hopefully, our guys will apply concepts and match the focus, the intensity, and the aggressiveness, because they’ll be very aggressive in their playcalling, particularly early in the game.”

A season ago, missed opportunities cost N.C. State a chance for an upset win on a Thursday night at home. This time around, Venables hopes the Wolfpack never see the light—especially with a new quarterback that appears capable of leading the team toward it.