The North Carolina Tar Heels have named redshirt freshman Drake Maye their starting quarterback for the start of the 2022-23 college football season. Maye is the son of former North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mark Maye and the brother of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball legend Luke Maye. The redshirt freshman beat out junior quarterback Jacolby Criswell for the starting job. He is tasked with replacing quarterback Sam Howell who was drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. North Carolina opens up the season on Saturday, August 27th against the Florida A&M Rattlers.
Another starting QB announcement. Mack Brown tabs Drake Maye as the starter. He’s the younger brother of Tar Heel hoops great, Luke Maye. Drake Maye flipped from Bama to UNC during his recruitment.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 22, 2022
Last season as a true freshman with the North Carolina Tar Heels, Drake Maye completed seven passes for 89 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions on ten attempts. He also rushed the ball six times for 62 yards. With Sam Howell under center there wasn’t much need for another quarterback and because of that Maye took a redshirt for the season. Now he gets to follow in his dad and brother’s footsteps and make his own memories and highlights with the Tar Heels.
JUST IN: Drake Maye will start at quarterback for #UNC in their season opener against FAMU on Saturday per Mack Brown. @WNCN pic.twitter.com/qq1jpt5JJ0
— Jordan Crammer (@JordanCrammer) August 22, 2022
Head Coach Mack Brown will likely take a week-to-week approach with the starting quarterback job unless and until Drake Maye proves he has earned the job fully. The expectations for the North Carolina Tar Heels aren’t as high this season as last year, but perhaps that’s what the team needs. Last year the team underperformed throughout the season and this year is a chance to change things. Maye will have to continue to earn his new role moving forward. Luke Maye already put himself in the Tar Heels’ history book and now it could be his brother, Drake Maye’s turn to do the same. College football is about to return!
