Athlon Sports revealed its list of preseason football All-Americans on Wednesday, with UNC sophomore quarterback Sam Howell earning a Third Team selection after exploding onto the scene with one of the best seasons by a true freshman at the position of all time.

Howell set the FBS record for most touchdown passes by a true freshman by throwing for 38 scores in 2019, a number that ranks third in ACC history and first in UNC history regardless of age.

He also threw for 3,641 yards while compiling just seven interceptions on his way to leading UNC to a 7-6 record and the program’s first bowl win since 2013.

With nearly all of his top offensive weapons returning in 2020, the expectations are sky-high for Howell as he looks to help UNC take the next step into national relevance in football.

He joins linebacker Chazz Surratt–who was named a Preseason First Team All-American by Street and Smith’s on Tuesday–as the second Tar Heel to earn Preseason All-American honors to this point.

 

 

Photo via Dakota Moyer

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