North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is one of the best players returning in college football going into the 2023 season. After a stellar 2022 campaign, Maye enters the year with Heisman hopes. But more importantly, he wants to help lead North Carolina to an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.
With about a week until the 2023 ACC Kickoff event in Charlotte, 247Sports is going around and handing out awards for each conference on the site’s “Media Days” series. And in the ACC, they have Maye winning an award.
247Sports had Maye as their “Offensive Player of the Year” in the conference:
Maye is probably the most-gifted passer in the ACC, and is certainly worthy of consideration as the top quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft. He was terrific in his debut as a starter last season, completing 66.2% of his passes for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Honestly, it might be difficult for him to replicate those numbers after offensive coordinator Phil Longo left for Wisconsin and his top two receivers exited after combining for 137 catches and 18 touchdowns. If he somehow does come close to last season’s number, Maye deserves the nod as the ACC’s offensive player of the year.
Maye was also in the running for the Player of the Year Award by the website, falling short to Florida State’s Jordan Travis. He did get nine votes in that race per the website.
This won’t be the only time that Maye earns some preseason recognition leading into the new campaign. And rightfully so.
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