The North Carolina Tar Heels will welcome in Big Ten foe Minnesota on Saturday for the first of two non-conference games in the series between the two programs.
As Minnesota brings a Big Ten-style of play in, the Gophers will have to try and slow down quarterback Drake Maye to have success in this game. It’s likely this will be the only time Maye faces Minnesota as he is considered an early first-round pick for the 2024 NFL draft. And Fleck knows the challenges of stopping Maye as North Carolina’s ‘do-it-all’ man.
“He’s exactly as advertised. … He can do it all,” Fleck said this week via the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
His defensive coordinator, Joe Rossi, echoed similar thoughts as he praised Maye’s play.
“He’s one of the best players in the country, not just his position, but just in general,” Gophers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said. “And he was always hurting people on the run last year. But he can make all the throws. His arm strength is off the charts.”
While it’s been a slower start for Maye through the air, the Tar Heels’ offense is getting it done on the ground and is finding ways to score. It’s unlikely that Maye and this offense will continue to struggle all season long but they are missing a big weapon for him in Tez Walker.
As the year goes on, the hope is that some else can step up and fill that void for Maye. And if that happens, UNC has the chance to be even better.
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