North Carolina head coach Mack Brown would not appear apprehensive concerning the truth his program misplaced quarterback Drake Maye to the NFL.
Brown informed reporters on Thursday that regardless of dropping their beginning quarterback for the second time in 4 seasons, the Tar Heels may very well be higher than ever.
“I feel we are able to have a greater probability to have a greater crew with out as a lot hype at quarterback,” Brown mentioned, in keeping with a report by ESPN’s Andrea Adelson. “We’ll run the ball higher. We’ll play higher protection. We’ll play complementary soccer higher. With Sam (Howell) and Drake (Maye), you are attempting to win the Heisman. You are throwing it each time.”
The 2-time Huge 12 Coach of the 12 months with Texas added that UNC “lastly may need a working crew that may throw the ball and that can assist our protection,” which they “have not been capable of do.”
Tar Heels followers have been spoiled by their crew’s play below heart over the past 5 seasons with Sam Howell ranging from 2019-21 and Drake Maye serving because the No. 1 in 2022 and 2023.
The 2 gamers have been teammates throughout Howell’s junior 2021 marketing campaign, Maye’s freshman yr.
The previous was first within the ACC in passing touchdowns in 2019 (38) and 2020 (30) and led the convention in completions (237), passing yards (3,586), passing yards per try (10.3), passing effectivity ranking (179.1) and complete touchdowns (36) in 2020. Howell was chosen by the Washington Commanders within the fifth spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft, performed two seasons within the nation’s capital and was traded to the Seattle Seahawks on March 14.
Brown defined on Thursday that whereas Maye finally grabbed ahold of the Tar Heels’ beginning gig and dominated for 2 seasons, he wasn’t assured the lead position following Howell’s departure.
“Two years in the past, we did not know who was going to play,” he mentioned, per Adelson. “And we have been below the radar, and everyone mentioned Sam Howell’s gone? They are not going to be nearly as good. We have been 9-1 to start out the season. So I feel it is the identical. Max (Johnson) has thrown 900 balls within the SEC. We’ll be higher than individuals assume we’re on the offensive line. Our receivers are good. We have got possibly the perfect working again in our league, within the nation, and we have got some good ones behind him. We have got an ideal tight finish room.”
Maye ended up having a monster 2022 marketing campaign, profitable the ACC Participant of the 12 months Award and ACC Offensive Participant of the 12 months whereas ending tenth within the Heisman Trophy voting. In 2023, he posted a 63.3 completion proportion for 3,608 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions whereas including 112 dashing makes an attempt for 449 yards and 9 scores.
Maye was chosen by the New England Patriots with the third total decide in April’s draft and is battling veteran Jacoby Brissett for the lead position this summer season.
In line with Adelson’s report, Brown hasn’t named a beginning quarterback but, however the high contenders are Texas A&M switch Max Johnson and Conner Harrell. Jacolby Criswell can be again to compete below heart, after spending 2020-22 at Chapel Hill and 2023 with the College of Arkansas.
Adelson famous that there may very well be a “huge shift” within the offense, with first crew All-ACC working again Omarion Hampton again for his junior season.
“So I feel the offense goes to be actually good,” Brown mentioned. “Conner runs 4.4. He is actually good. He is actually good. Jacolby’s performed within the SEC, he is performed with us. So we have got three actually proficient quarterbacks.”