Tag: Conner Harrell

Class of 2026 QB target Noah Grubbs praises UNC during recent visit

Will UNC’s quarterback-centered offense be enough to swing Class of 2026 QB Noah Grubbs?

Can you believe the start of college football season is just four months away?

We’ve been celebrating the NFL Draft here in Tar Heel Nation, with star UNC quarterback Drake Maye going third overall to the New England Patriots on Thursday night, but we’re equally as excited about the future.

North Carolina held its Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 20, with the main focus a quarterback competition between Conner Harrell and Max Johnson. The latter will be gone in two years, as Johnson’s currently a junior, leaving the Tar Heel with a major need for more quarterbacks in the future.

Luckily for UNC, one of its Class of 2026 targets in 4-star quarterback Noah Grubbs, left the Spring game with a strong impression.

“My visit was great,” Grubbs told Tar Heel Illustrated’s Lee Wardlaw. “It meant a lot to my family and I that Coach Mack Brown and Coach Chip Lindsey really prioritized us on the visit. The university means more to my family than anyone could imagine. Honestly, we were blown away.”

One area in particular Grubbs liked – how North Carolina’s offense is so quarterback-focused.

“Yes, I really like his (Coach Chip Lindsey’s) offense, and he lets the quarterback ‘just play’ without thinking,’ Grubbs said. “It’s ‘easy read,’ and I love how balanced the offense is. Coach Lindsey really knows how to make it simple for the quarterbacks to go through their progressions and make decisions. It also showcases a lot of our ability to stretch the field vertically.”

You’ll want Grubbs in Chapel Hill even more after seeing his high school statline, as he has a whopping 5,263 yards and 66 touchdowns in just 24 total games.

Grubbs, the nation’s third-ranked quarterback, is also getting looks from Auburn, Florida, Michigan, Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas A&M and UCF.

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Conner Harrell speaks about QB competition

Conner Harrell speaks about QB competition, his bond with Max Johnson, and the strides he’s made since last season following the UNC spring football game.

The quarterback competition is brewing at UNC, but that has not stopped [autotag]Conner Harrell[/autotag] from connecting with Texas A&M transfer QB [autotag]Max Johnson.[/autotag]

Harrell and Johnson are competing for the QB1 spot, a unique situation many programs don’t have, with QB1s often set in stone before the school’s annual spring football game. The uniqueness of the situation is one of many reasons Mack Brown decided to forgo televising the game.

Following Saturday’s spring football game, Harrell spoke about blocking out the noise, ways he’s gotten better, and his connection with Johnson despite competing for the starting quarterback position.

“I tell myself just do the best that I can do. Some things are out of my control…Anything in my control. I have to work the hardest, I have to watch as much film as I can, I have to lead as much as I can…Not try to worry about all the outside stuff too much.”

“We understand we are competing, but we understand we are just people..trying to help each other..”, Harrell on his connection with Johnson. “We are the only two people going through what we are going through. No one else in the country is in this place at this time. So when someone going through, what you going through you kinda bond.”

Harrell wasn’t shy about improvements he made since last season, noting he’s gotten a lot better at his accuracy and pocket presence. As of now, no indicator starts game one, but Harrell did produce bigger splash plays Saturday, including a 68-yard passing touchdown.

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Who does 247Sports have UNC facing in its first bowl projection?

UNC is projected to make a bowl game, but will it win for just the third time in 10 tries?

College football season doesn’t start until August, but there will be plenty of conversation around the sport in the coming weeks.

That’s because on Thursday, April 25, the dreams of over 200 college players will come true in the NFL Draft.

A majority of the NFL Draft attention in Chapel Hill surrounds star quarterback Drake Maye, who finished his college career with nearly 10,000 scrimmage yards and 80 touchdowns, was named the 2023 ACC Player of the Year and will likely be a Top-5 pick.

One of the greatest questions for UNC – in the fall – surrounds its quarterback position. North Carolina will have an intense quarterback competition in the Spring game, highlighted by Conner Harrell and Max Johnson.

The Tar Heels might not have the wide array of offensive weapons from last season, but they should win enough games to make another bowl game.

According to 247Sports’ early projections, UNC is set to face off against Northwestern in the Pinstripe Bowl.

I have hope that North Carolina can figure out how to win a bowl game, but I can already tell you right now that game will end in a loss. UNC is 2-7 in its last nine bowl games, not a pretty sight for a team that collapses late in the season.

The Tar Heels’ NFL Draft-eligible players sit out to save their careers, which I don’t blame them. There is talent across UNC’s roster, but head coach Mack Brown falls just short of prepping his reserves for the postseason.

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UNC Football spring game announced

Details about the UNC football program’s annual Spring game as they continue to move forward to the 2024 season.

The annual UNC spring football game will take place on April 20th at 3 P.M. eastern time and is free to the public.

As we inch closer to the football season, fans get their first look at what’s to come this season. UNC is already six practices in this year and will look completely different from years passed, with a new quarterback sliding in to try and lead the Tar Heels to the Promise Land.

Fighting for the starting role is sophomore [autotag]Conner Harrell[/autotag], who started his first career start in the Duke Mayo Bowl last season. The other quarterback looking to fill Drake Maye’s cleats is Texas A&M transfer [autotag]Max Johnson[/autotag], who has a boatload of experience, playing two years at LSU and two with the Aggies.

One position that isn’t up for grabs is the running back spot, with [autotag]Omarion Hampton[/autotag] expected to be in the driver’s seat. Last season, Hampton was spectacular as the driving force in the backfield, rushing for 1,504 yards (second most in a single season in UNC history).

Before the spring game kicks off, UNC will be having a fan fest at the Bell Tower starting at 1 P.M. and ending at 2:30. Public parking (free), will be available at the Bell Tower deck (ADA parking), Bowels lot, Cardinal deck, Craige deck, Jackson deck and Manning lot.

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North Carolina’s QB position named among top battles to watch in Spring

The UNC football quarterback battle was named one to watch this offseason as Max Johnson and Conner Harrell are competing for the starter.

This offseason is a very important one for the North Carolina Tar Heels as life without quarterback Drake Maye begins. With Maye off to the NFL, the Tar Heels are turning the page and now they have a quarterback battle.

Sophomore Conner Harrell started the team’s bowl game against West Virginia and will battle with graduate transfer Max Johnson who came to North Carolina from Texas A&M. It will be experience against a player that has been in the offense before and is a battle to watch.

Going into the Spring, a lot of attention will be on position battles across the country including this one. Brad Crawford of 247Sports wrote on the quarterback battles, listing Johnson as the projected starter, and had this to say:

Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson was an early take in the portal for the Tar Heels with UNC’s offensive staff knowing Drake Maye was heading to the 2024 NFL Draft. Johnson provides immediate veteran support at the position who should thrive in Chip Lindsey’s offense without struggling through a transitional period. If there are some early hiccups for Johnson after four years in the SEC, that’s what spring practice is for, right? Harrell, a redshirt freshman, made his first start in UNC’s bowl lost to West Virginia.

Notes 247Sports’ Grant Hughes, the former three-star signee from Alabama scored his first college touchdown on a 61-yard burst — analytics trackers had him reaching a maximum speed of 21.1 mph during the dash — and then connected with Chris Culliver over the top on a 41-yard score for his first touchdown toss. In limited action, Harrell showed why UNC’s staff felt good about their quarterback room last season with a top-5 pick ahead of him.

There’s a long way to go in this battle as we haven’t even hit Spring practices yet, let alone training camp for the season.

But just like we had two seasons ago in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels are hoping the winner of this battle can lead them to be in contention in the ACC.

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Connor Harrell: ‘There is not one thing to blame, not one person to blame’

UNC’s Connor Harrell speaks to the media following the 30-10 bowl loss on what went wrong and his preparation to get the QB1 spot next year.

The UNC football program was down 12 starters in its bowl game against West Virginia, allowing players who usually don’t play to get reps.

One of those players taking full advantage of that opportunity was redshirt freshman quarterback [autotag]Connor Harrell[/autotag], who started in place of [autotag]Drake Maye[/autotag]. When it was official that Maye would be opting out of the Dukes Mayo bowl to prepare for the NFL draft, Harrell was the next man up to prove he could be QB1 next season.

Despite the 30-10 loss, Harrell showcased his impressive speed and toughness while playing through an injury he sustained early into the game. Harrell finished with 199 passing yards, 25 rushing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Following the loss, Harrell met with media outside UNC’s locker room, sharing his thoughts on what went wrong in the second-half.

“I have to watch film. There is not one thing to blame, not one person to blame. I think we have to be better at every phase of the game.”

Harrell showcased what fans had hoped to see from him in the loss he proved he can carry the torch with a proper game plan in place. Understanding that the QB1 spot will likely come down to him and Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson, Harrell gave insight on what he needs to do to separate himself.

“Decision-making is a huge, huge part of it. I’ll watch the film and see it more, but the same stuff I’m working on to get here is what I will work on in the offseason.”

It will be intriguing to see who ends up being QB1 in Chapel Hill next season, Mack Brown loved what he saw from Harrell, but only time will tell.

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WATCH: J.J. Jones’s touchdown grab before halftime

Watch UNC wide receiver J.J. Jones’s critical 16-yard touchdown grab to give the Tar Heels their first touchdown of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

The North Carolina football program was in action Wednesday night against West Virginia as they played in the Dukes Mayo Bowl.

UNC entered the game with a depleted roster, including their star quarterback [autotag]Drake Maye[/autotag], and standout wide receiver [autotag]Tez Walker[/autotag]. The loss of UNC’s high high-powered duo was on full display early as the offense struggled to find rhythm and the end zone.

The struggles didn’t last long, with redshirt freshman QB Conner Harrell finding J.J. Jones for a 16-yard touchdown. The insane grab even had the refs fooled, as they had to revisit their initial ruling to ensure Jones came down with the catch.

The touchdown brought new life to UNC’s offense, delivering a much-needed spark. Before the game, UNC released a package on Jones, expressing his joy as a Tar Heel.

If UNC wants to give Mack Brown that mayo bath, feeding Jones in the second half is warranted.

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Conner Harrell hoping to take advantage of opportunity at Duke’s Mayo Bowl

UNC football quarterback Conner Harrell is ready for his opportunity against West Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Wednesday’s clash with West Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl will be the first game North Carolina quarterback Conner Harrell will start in his Tar Heels’ career. With Drake Maye opting out to go to the NFL, Harrell is stepping in and getting a big chance to prove he should be the starter in 2024.

North Carolina has already added a transfer quarterback in Max Johnson, who will battle Harrell for the starting job.

On Tuesday, Harrell talked to Tar Heel Illustrated at media day and told Andrew Jones he’s hoping to make the most of his opportunity:

“Definitely an opportunity for me. I need to take advantage of every one I get. I wouldn’t say I think about it too much. At the end of the day, I’ve just got to just go out there and execute the game plan. There’s a lot of outside stuff, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to do what we do in practice and just go out there playing and have fun.”

With Johnson coming in, this is a HUGE opportunity for Harrell ahead of Spring Practices and then training camp later on in the Summer. A good showing can go a long way on Wednesday.

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Conner Harrell excited for QB1 opportunity in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Drake Maye’s declaration for the NFL Draft has thrust Conner Harrell into the QB1 spot for the UNC football team. Harrell’s ready to shine.

If he weren’t a top prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft, there’s a good chance Drake Maye would be quarterback UNC in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

With Maye being arguably the 2024 NFL Draft’s top quarterback prospect and Carolina’s bowl game not having major implications, he decided to opt out and instead, make a decision best for his future.

It would be great to see Maye light up the field one last time, but I completely understand his decision.

Maye’s decision, however, opens up the door for yet another talented quarterback to show Tar Heel Nation his skillset against West Virginia.

That young man is none other than Conner Harrell, a redshirt freshman from Alabaster, Ala. whose 2023 highlight play was a 61-yard touchdown run against Campbell.

Harrell actually spoke to the media on Thursday, Dec. 14, addressing his sudden rise to QB1 status:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C01pSbdsavJ/

“I’m blessed to have the opportunity and blessed to be in this position,” Harrell told the media. “I’m just taking advantage of it (being QB1) every day in every practice. Drake (Maye) left, now it’s my turn to be loud and be that leader. You always have to be prepared, no matter what, because my number could’ve been called at any second in the season. I take that preparation that I’ve being doing all year and now multiply, add onto it so it’s a smooth transition.”

Harrell played in four games this year, with his most extensive action being in relief of Maye against Campbell. He finished the 59-7 Carolina victory with 132 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.

Harrell was also quite the football player at Thompson High School, throwing for 84 touchdowns, nearly 6,500 career yards and leading his team to two state championships.

It still remains to be seen whether Harrell or Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson will be QB1 next year, but a strong performance from Harrell in two weeks could give him the early leg up.

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Offensive Keys to the Game for UNC in Victory Bell battle

UNC and Duke matchup on Saturday night in the annual “Victory Bell” game. What does Carolina need to do offensively to hold onto the bell?

After two consecutive, season-altering losses, the UNC football team played itself right back into the win column.

Carolina dominated in-state FCS opponent Campbell, 59-7, in its highest point total of 2023.

UNC quarterback Drake Maye threw touchdowns on a quarter of his 16 competions – two to top wideout Devontez Walker, plus one each to Chris Culliver and John Copenhaver. Carolina running back Omarion Hampton cracked 1,000 rushing yards on the season and turned in his fourth-straight 100-yard performance, tallying 144 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

The score became so lopsided at one point, UNC decided to put its backups in. We saw second-string quarterback Conner Harrell take off and score on a 61-yard, fourth quarter run, third-stringer Jefferson Boaz complete one pass, plus reserve running back Kellen Hood and Jordan Louie carry the rock a couple times.

Carolina’s going to have an expectedly tougher time executing against its next opponent, Tobacco Road archirval Duke, on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. ET. The Blue Devils have only allowed more than 21 points twice – both in raucous road environments at Louisville and Florida State.

We said the same thing about tough Syracuse, Minnesota and Miami defenses, but UNC had no issue moving the ball against them. That was, of course, before its former two-game losing streak.

See what the Tar Heels need to continue doing offensively for win number eight: