Drake Maye declares for NFL Draft
Many have described him as the most talented quarterback to ever set foot on UNC’s campus.
He took over when Sam Howell departed for the NFL 2022 Draft, surprising many Tar Heel fans when flipping from Alabama to UNC. He originally competed for playing time with Jacolby Criswell, but eventually won the starting job.
If you haven’t guessed it already, we’re talking about Drake Maye. The kid with Carolina roots that date back to his dad on the football field, but more recently include older brothers Luke and Beau on the basketball court.
Maye made the decision that shocked no one on Monday evening, declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
— Drake Maye (@DrakeMaye2) December 11, 2023
UNC’s star gunslinger, who was once in Heisman Trophy contention before another late-season fallout, showed the college football world of his capabilities as a redshirt freshman last year. He was named 2022 ACC Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-ACC.
Maye had Carolina in fringe College Football Playoff contention early this season, helping his team jump out to a 6-0 start with five wins over Power 5 opponents. Maye ends his third – and final – season in Chapel Hill with 3,608 passing yards (eighth nationally), 24 passing touchdowns, 582 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.
There’s been a lot of memorable Drake Maye moments in his two years as a starter, but his signature 2023 moment was a 4-touchdown, 0-interception performance in a 41-31 UNC win over Miami. While he got in hot water for trash talk on occasion, Maye will always be known as a kid who bled Carolina blue and would do anything for his teammates.
It’d be great to see Maye back in a Tar Heel uniform, but with him projected to be a Top-5 pick, he has to take advantage and cash in on that.
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