Drake Maye, the main player behind UNC football’s sudden ascension toward the top of ACC, is one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
Maye played himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation last year, leading the ACC and finishing fourth in the country with 4,321 passing yards. He tossed 38 touchdowns to just seven interceptions, completed 66.7% of his passes and racked up a 157.9 quarterback rating.
Maye also had the help of wide receivers Josh Downs and Antoine Green, who are now on NFL rosters.
The Tar Heels’ quarterback tortured opposing defenses with his rocket arm and showcased his ability to evade tacklers on the ground. Maye actually led UNC with 698 rushing yards and finished second with seven rushing touchdowns.
Could Maye find himself back into Heisman Trophy contention this year and possibly win the award?
According to 247Sports, it will be tough because UNC is not a nationally-relevant, championship-caliber program.
UNC will have a golden chance to prove itself in Week One against an SEC school, facing neighboring rival South Carolina, in Charlotte, on Sept. 2 in a rematch of the 2021 season-opener. The Heels turn around and host App State in a rematch of last year’s thrilling, 63-61 victory in Boone, then host Minnesota on Sept. 16 in an ACC-Big 10 clash, before jumping into ACC play at the University of Pittsburgh on Sept. 23.
Carolina’s conference slate also includes Syracuse, Miami (FL), UVA, Georgia Tech, Duke, and the final two regular-season games – at Clemson and N.C. State – that could make-or-break Maye’s Heisman chances and determine whether the boys in baby blue will be CFP bound.
At one point last season, Carolina was sitting on the outside window of College Football Playoff contention, finding itself ranked 13th in mid-November after a comeback win against Wake Forest. Carolina was, at least for one season, becoming a nationally-relevant program. Then, the Heels lost their final four games, including the ACC Championship against Clemson.
Maye doesn’t have Downs and Green, but he does have the luxury of two reliable tight ends in Bryson Nesbit and Kamari Morales (856 yards, eight touchdowns in 2022). He’ll likely continue using his legs to sprint past the opposition when a passing play breaks down.
If Maye wants to win Heisman, he’ll have to play like he did through the first 10 games of 2022, connect with his young receiving corps and hope his defense can hold up its end of the bargain.