Tag: drake Maye

Drake Maye named one of the top players in college football for 2023

UNC football quarterback Drake Maye was named one of the top players returning for the 2023 season.

The 2023 college football season is still months away, but until we reach Week 0, there will be much to talk about. The UNC football program hopes to build on last season when it started well before losing four straight and finished 9-5.

But despite that end-of-season slide, there were things to build on. The biggest was quarterback Drake Maye.

In his first year as a starter, Maye put up record numbers and showed he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. On Monday, On3 released its list of the top 10 players in college football going into 2023, and Maye is No. 2 behind only USC quarterback Caleb Williams:

The Tar Heels’ season got off to a shaky start in 2022, but it quickly became apparent that Maye was going to be capable of lifting the team to some impressive heights. The freshman threw for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns, while also rushing for 698 yards and seven scores. Perhaps most impressive was his toughness. Maye never hesitated to put his body on the line when it could help his team.

That’s pretty impressive for the UNC football program to have a top player in all of college football on the roster.

When next season is done, Maye could be the best player in the country. And if that happens, Maye would likely be the No. 1 player taken in the 2024 NFL draft.

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15 reasons why Eagles GM will look to trade a 2023 first-round pick for more draft assets in 2024

Philadelphia is always looking to acquire impact players and we’re looking at fifteen 2024 NFL Draft prospects that could entice Eagles GM Howie Roseman to trade a 2023 first-round pick

During the 2021 NFL offseason, Howie Roseman was able to trade Carson Wentz and land a pre-draft deal with the Dolphins, resulting in three first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.

That helped spawn a potential Super Bowl run this season.

The Eagles are technically still in the midst of a rebuild and although they made the postseason two years in a row, roster uncertainty thanks to 2023 free agency could allow pushing the retool into 2024 as well.

Even with the postseason in full swing, it is never too early for a look ahead to the 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts scenarios.

Thanks to some draft night wizardry from Howie Roseman, the Eagles traded the No. 16 overall pick, No. 19 overall pick, and a 2022 sixth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for the No. 18 overall pick, a 2022 third-round pick, a 2022 seventh-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-round pick.

Philadelphia has their franchise quarterback, but if Roseman still has dreams of redoing the Justin Jefferson fiasco the 2024 draft could offer several big named quarterbacks, an All-American pass catcher and several defenders to help offset potential losses.

If Philadelphia dreams of an all-world pass-rusher or stud wide receiver, an extra first-round pick would be gold a year from now when the team will have multiple second-round picks as well.

Here are some of the top 2024 signal-callers, a star running back, and one all-world wide receiver that could have Roseman waiting patiently for that greener pasture.

Notable 2023 Heisman Trophy odds

Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning both receive Heisman odds.

The 2023 college football season is a long way away, but it is never too early to start speculating about some of the more exciting players to look forward to.

BetOnline has released early 2023 Heisman Trophy odds, with North Carolina’s Drake Maye and USC’s Caleb Williams as favorites.

Maye returns to North Carolina after a breakout redshirt freshman season. He possesses a massive arm with NFL scout already drooling over him.

Williams is looking to become the first player to win back-to-back Heismans since Archie Griffin in 1975. Another big season leading the Trojans’ offense could have Williams holding the trophy yet again come Dec.

Following the two front runners on the list are a few quarterbacks who opted to put the NFL on hold and return for their senior year. Jordan Travis (Florida State), Bo Nix (Oregon) and Michael Penix Jr (Washington) are back with tons of experience.

The quarterback position tends to dominate the award and that does not seem to be changing this year. Michigan running back Blake Corum is the first non-quarterback on this list. He sits outside the top 10 in best odds at 33/1.

Here is a look at some of the notable Heisman Trophy favorites, dark horses, non-quarterbacks and long shots according to BetOnline’s odds.

Taking a look at the top QB prospects in the 2024 NFL draft class

The 2024 quarterback draft class is loaded with potential superstars. 

The 2024 quarterback draft class is loaded with potential superstars. Continue reading “Taking a look at the top QB prospects in the 2024 NFL draft class”

Social Media Buzz: Ducks win thrilling Holiday Bowl with 28-27 comeback over North Carolina

The Ducks came back from down 10 in the 4th quarter and got a game-winning TD with 19 seconds left to win the Holiday Bowl. Of course the fans went crazy online.

For a majority of the game, it was a frustrating affair for Oregon Duck fans, who saw a struggling defense try to stop Drake Maye and an offense that looked uncharacteristically sluggish.

That is until it all changed in the fourth quarter.

Trailing by 10 with under 10 minutes to play, Bo Nix led a TD drive that cut the lead to 3. After the defense got a massive stop and forced a field goal from North Carolina, it gave Bo Nix a chance to drive the length of the field with just over 2 minutes remaining. The Oregon offense did just that, and a touchdown to Chase Cota tied the game with less than 30 seconds remaining.

If that wasn’t entertaining enough, the extra point from Camden Lewis hit the upright and bounced through, giving the Ducks the lead. Oregon’s defense held, and the Ducks won the Holiday Bowl over North Carolina, 28-27.

As you would imagine, Oregon fans went through quite the roller coaster of emotions online. Here are some of the best Twitter reactions from the night.

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing the Holiday Bowl with Tar Heels Wire

A comprehensive breakdown of Oregon vs. North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl with @Zack_Pearson from @tarheelswire

We are just a day away from the Oregon Ducks and North Carolina Tar Heels squaring off in the Holiday Bowl down in San Diego, California at Petco Park.

Despite the numerous transfers and opt-outs on both sidelines that have depleted each roster to a degree, this is still an incredibly intriguing matchup between Ducks and Tar Heels, and it will feature one of the best-looking jersey matchups as well.

The quarterbacks are going to be the main topic of conversation in this one, with Bo Nix going up against Drake Maye. Both were on the fringes of the Heisman Trophy conversation in 2022, and they’re expected to be among the favorites going into 2023.

To help us break down this game and learn a little bit more about the Tar Heels season, we talked with Zack Pearson of USA TODAY’s Tar Heels Wire for another edition of ‘Behind Enemy Lines.’

Here is that conversation:

Where Bo Nix fits into the 2023 Heisman Trophy picture

Now that we know Bo Nix is returning in 2023, where should he be viewed when it comes to the Heisman Trophy picture?

One of the more frustrating things for Oregon Duck fans to watch over the past month has been an onslaught of 2023 Heisman Trophy watch lists coming out, all with quarterback Bo Nix excluded from the conversation.

It made sense, of course, with the senior QB yet to decide whether or not he would be coming back for another year with the Ducks, but it remained hard to see for Duck fans who believed that when healthy, Nix was among the best players in the nation in 2022.

Now we know for sure that Nix is returning, though, so it’s time to start up the Heisman conversation.

Might this be the year? Could he be a dark horse candidate? He’s focused, he’s having fun. He’s certainly improved in this new Oregon offense.

We are still a long way away from seeing the complete Heisman picture unfold, but at the moment, there are a number of players who are in the mix as potential candidates. Let’s see where Nix fits into the picture.

ESPN lists the top Heisman Trophy contenders for 2023

ESPN deems Arch Manning a 2023 Heisman candidate.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams took home the Heisman Trophy after a fantastic 2022 season for the Trojans. While the Heisman was just awarded to Williams, ESPN is already looking ahead to the 2023 contenders.

Caleb Williams returns leading the pack of Heisman front runners. He is looking to join Ohio State legend Archie Griffin as a two-time Heisman winner.

North Carolina’s Drake Maye is a popular pick following his breakout freshman campaign. Maye threw for 35 touchdowns and took home ACC Player of the Year honors for the Tar Heels.

An interesting selection mentioned by ESPN is 2023 Texas commit Arch Manning. The five-star ranks as the No. 1 player in the country coming out of high school but has Quinn Ewers and Maailk Murphy to pass on Texas’ depth chart. No true freshman has ever won the Heisman Trophy.

Here is a complete look at ESPN’s way-too-early Heisman contenders. It is divided into four categories: top contenders, up-and-comers, momentum players and redemption stories.

2023 Way too early Heisman Trophy candidates

College Wire regional editor Patrick Conn broke down his early Heisman candidates for 2023, any surprises on the list?

Caleb Williams won the Heisman Memorial Trophy for his efforts during the 2022 college football season, but is it too early to look at who could win next season?

It is never too early, at least for me.

Given that Williams won the trophy in 2022, he should be among the top candidates for it in 2023. Had he played more games in 2021, the former Oklahoma quarterback would have likely been in contention last season.

Alabama’s Bryce Young, TCU’s Max Duggan, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, and Georgia’s Stetson Bennett are likely all gone after the season. This should pave the way for the next group of rising stars to take over the sport next season.

With that in mind, I put together a list of 10 worthy candidates who will take center stage next season. Honorable mention would go to either Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning for the Texas Longhorns. Both are five-star gunslingers who will be under the microscope. Manning figures to be the backup and redshirt in 2023 but if Ewers doesn’t perform in spring and fall camps, could Steve Sarkisian go with the young gun?

Let’s get to the top 10 list, we start at the bottom and work our way to the top.

NC State beats UNC in double overtime on a missed field goal attempt

UNC loses in double over time as kicker Noah Burnette misses the field goal try to send the game into a triple overtime.

The North Carolina Tar Heels have now lost two-straight games to close out the 2022 season, falling to N.C. State in double overtime on Saturday in disappointing fashion.

And for the second straight week, it was a third-string quarterback that beat the Tar Heels.

Ben Finley got the start for the Wolfpack and finished the game 27 of 40 for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns, outplaying Drake Maye and the Tar Heels.

UNC got off to an ugly start, struggling to move the ball on offense, and could not stop the Wolfpack from moving down the field. The game started in North Carolina’s hands and quickly left them as UNC went three and out in just 51 seconds of action. NC State matched the three-play drive, but instead of a punt, scored a touchdown in 49 seconds, with a big chunk of the drive coming from quarterback Ben Finley completing a 52-yard pass to Devin Carter.

The drive for UNC shared the same fate as the first one, going three and out again. The Tar Heel’s fortune on defense changed for the better, forcing NC State to a three and out of their own to get the ball back for UNC. After a 15-parlay drive, North Carolina finally got points on the board, with kicker Noah Burnette hitting a 37-yard field goal to bring the score 7-3 in Wolfpacks’ favor.

After both teams went three and out again, NC State added to their lead with another touchdown three minutes into the second quarter, with Finley finding Terrell Timmons Jr. to give the Wolfpack a 14-3 lead. The two teams would then again deliver back-to-back punts before North Carolina’s offense finally found its groove, as running back Elijah Green reached the end-zone with a 9-yard rushing touchdown.

The next drive started looking scary for UNC as NC State walked the ball down the field after a horrendous 15-yard penalty for a face mask. Before the Wolfpack could capitalize with points, the North Carolina defense came to life, forcing a fumble on running back Jack Chambers. Despite getting the ball back, UNC’s offense failed to deliver, giving NC State a chance to score with just 38 seconds left in half. That chance was converted into three as UNC’s defense could not contain the Wolfpacks’ pressure.

The second half started suitable for North Carolina’s defense, forcing NC state to a three-and-out. Much like their first half, the offense went flat again, punting after a 17-yard, five-play drive. The third quarter continued to be a nightmare for both offenses, as they failed to muster up any points in the period.

The fourth continued the trend of lackluster offensive play, but eventually, North Carolina broke threw, with quarterback Drake Maye using his feet to score a touchdown with a 14-yard run. With the score tied at 17 a piece, the clock played a significant part in both teams’ offensive attacks.

UNC’s offensive struggles continued on their next possession as their drive ended with a Maye interception. NC State quickly turned that pick into points, with Finley finding Carter for a 26-yard touchdown, giving the Wolfpack a 24-17 lead. North Carolina got the ball back with 3:54 left in the game and showcased the offense that disappeared the last two weeks.

Maye led the Heels down the field as the time dwindled. UNC found themselves with the perfect opportunity to tie it to overtime with under 10 seconds left on the clock. On third and goal, Maye nearly came in clutch with a 4-yard touchdown to tight-end John Copenhaver to set up the extra point try for overtime. However, after replay, the touchdown would not count… Then with just two seconds left, Maye completed the comeback, finding Antoine Green in the back of the end-zone to force overtime.

Overtime started slow for UNC, failing to score a touchdown but did convert the field goal to give the Heels a 27-24 lead. NC State had their crack at a tie or won with a touchdown. However, UNC’s defense forced the Wolfpack into a field goal attempt, tying the game at 27 a piece and forcing double overtime.

NC State started with the ball in the second overtime, and UNC’s defense held up again, forcing them into another field goal. It was now in UNC’s hands with a shot to win it with a touchdown. After a few attempts at a touchdown, much like NC State, they settled with a field goal. However, the field goal would go wide left, giving NC State the win 30 to 27.

UNC will return to action on December 3rd as they travel to Charlotte to take on the Clemson Tigers in the ACC championship game.

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