Drake Maye named finalist for Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
It seems with every passing game, UNC quarterback Drake Maye does something else to amaze the college football world.
First, it was a 400-yard passing game against a stout Minnesota defense. Then, it was a left-handed touchdown throw against Pitt. Most recently, it was a 442-passing yard performance vs. Syracuse on Saturday.
Maye was a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, but slipped further down the contention list with average performances in the first couple weeks. His recent play, however, has likely shot him back up that list.
There’s another list Maye finds himself on – the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List.
Maye, along with the likes of Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Florida State’s Jordan Travis, was recently named one of the 25 finalists for the Golden Arm Award. This is given annually to the nation’s top upperclassman quarterback – Maye is a redshirt sophomore.
The statistical highlight of Maye’s game this year is completion percentage, as he ranks 13th in the nation with a 72.1% mark. He’s also 20th in the nation with 1,629 passing yards, which is just two yards behind Georgia Tech’s Haynes King, yet another Golden Arm finalist, for the ACC lead.
Maye and the Tar Heels go up against another Golden Arm finalist in Miami (FL) quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. The Hurricanes lost to UNC’s kryptonite, Georgia Tech, last night on a King touchdown throw with time expiring.
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