Mack Brown has made his decision at quarterback.

On Monday, Brown announced redshirt freshman Drake Maye as the team’s starter for the first game against Florida A&M this weekend.

“He earned the job,” Brown said of Maye on Monday morning. “We’ve looked at every little thing every day from spring until now. It’s very close… we ended up just saying that we feel like he’s earned the right to be out there first.”

2022 will be Maye’s second full season in Chapel Hill. A four-star recruit, Maye was originally committed to playing at Alabama before he flipped to Carolina. He arrived on campus in the spring of 2021.

Maye played sparingly during the 2021 season, serving as the third-string backup behind Sam Howell and Jacolby Criswell. Maye appeared in four games for the Tar Heels, but got most of his playing time during UNC’s Week 11 win against Wofford. With Howell out due to an injury, Maye split time with Criswell. While Criswell started, Maye played in the second half, completing seven of nine passes for 89 yards and throwing a touchdown to tight end Kamari Morales.

Maye also has deep family ties to UNC. His father Mark played football at Carolina from 1984 through 1987, just missing Brown’s first stint as head coach of the Tar Heels. Drake’s brother Luke starred for the men’s basketball team from 2015 through 2019.

With Maye announced as the starter, Criswell will serve as his backup, though Brown said he expects both to see playing time this season.

“We do feel like the one that isn’t chosen as the starter needs to stay ready to play,” Brown said last week. “Because it’s so close. They’re both gonna play some, because with young quarterbacks, somebody’s gonna struggle. At some point you’re gonna take him out and put the other one in, and then that’s his chance to shine.”

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