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Drake Maye’s Heisman chances rest squarely on the Tar Heels.
The way-too-early college football predictions are flooding the Internet and social media. And Carolina’s glamour-puss quarterback is right in the middle of every discussion. But there is always one caveat.
The quarterback depends on the team and vice versa. In one projection, two-time defending national champion Georgia and perennial College Football Playoff power Alabama are both considered long shots to reach the CFP Final Four. Mainly because Stetson Bennett IV and Bryce Young are no longer leading the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide.
In the Heisman sweepstakes, Drake Maye is always listed among the top six candidates. But his so-called competition, like last year’s winner Caleb Williams of Southern Cal, are playing for established powers. Whether the Trojans win the Pac 12 or get into the playoffs doesn’t really matter because they have a richer football history than most schools.
Four of the other five listed with Maye are stars for big-time Power 5 teams, such as wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr. of Ohio State, quarterback Quinn Ewers of Texas, QB Jordan Travis of reemerging Florida State, and Williams of USC. The sixth candidate is not nearly known as much as Maye, Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen, who will try to become the first running back to win the Heisman since Derrick Henry in 2015.
Maye’s prospectus begins with the ominous condition of UNC staying competitive as a whole. According to one prognosticator, “It will be difficult to ignore the wow factor Maye brings to the field that gives the Tar Heels the best chance to win.” In other words, starting 9-1 and finishing 9-5 and losing games they are supposed to win won’t help Maye in the trophy race, no matter how gaudy his stats.
And those stats are super gaudy, including 4,321 yards passing, 38 touchdowns and 698 yards rushing and seven TDS from last season. And who will he throw to match that, with Josh Downs gone?
So the bottom line is whether Maye can keep up with his production from 2022 to remain a front-runner with Williams, and his team must be in the national picture by the end of the coming season.
Maye has all the credentials and intangibles — tremendous talent, already considered to have NFL savvy and the 6-foot-5 body of a more athletic Tom Brady, who is the GOAT largely because his team won six Super Bowls in his tenure at New England. For Maye, Carolina must also be championship caliber
Featured image via Associated Press/Mike Caudill
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Sam Howell’s disappointing final year is a WARNING how much an experienced O-Line “matters”. The loss of a second in protection makes a BIG difference … as well as a running option and experienced receivers. PLUS, every opposing D-Line will be gunning for Maye. ……
Bob Lee, true as always!