ESPN released its list of the top 50 college football players in the nation on Tuesday, with UNC sophomore quarterback Sam Howell and senior linebacker Chazz Surratt each finding their names among the rankings.

Howell checked in at No. 22 on the list as he prepares to build off one of the best seasons by a true freshman quarterback in NCAA history. He finished second in the ACC with 3,641 passing yards in 2019, while also setting an FBS record for a true freshman with 38 touchdown passes–a number that ranks third in ACC history regardless of age.

Surratt, meanwhile, took the No. 43 spot in the rankings heading into what will be just his second season at the linebacker position. After moving over from quarterback prior to 2019, Surratt’s speed and explosiveness helped him garner a team-high 115 tackles and 6.5 sacks.

Having superstars like Howell and Surratt are a big reason why the Tar Heels earned the No. 18 ranking in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25, and have preseason expectations as lofty as any the program has experienced in quite some time.

The Tar Heels are scheduled to begin the 2020 season on Sept. 12, when they host Syracuse at Kenan Stadium.

 

 

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Defensive Coordinator Steve Belichick on Medical Leave, Father Bill Says
UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is away from the program on medical leave, head coach Bill Belichick said Thursday at the Kenan Football Center. Steve Belichick had been scheduled to address the media last Thursday following the Tar Heels’ first practice of fall camp, but did not appear at the podium. Bill Belichick said the […]
The Morning News: Legion Road, ArtsOrange, Jason Johnson, Bill Belichick
In today's news: Chapel Hill provides an update on the future of its 36-acre property on Legion Road, with a pond slated for removal.
Chansky's Notebook: The One Who Got Away
Mack Brown was a very good football coach. His father was a high school coach in Tennessee, and his older brother Watson preceded him into mid-major positions. The peripatetic Brown held nine assistant jobs and one as a head coach in 15 years before he was 35. That included being the athletic director at Tulane […]
Taking Advantage of Court Ruling, UNC Kicker Rece Verhoff Returns to Program
Kicker Rece Verhoff is returning to the UNC football program and plans to play in the 2026 season, taking advantage of a recent court ruling from U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney which granted a fifth year of eligibility to athletes who graduated high school in 2022. Welcome back Rece Verhoff pic.twitter.com/Fwk0Z4PeNB — Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) […]
The Morning News: Mike Roberson, Chatham Pipeline, Chapel Hill Vehicle Break-Ins, Dean Dome
In today's news: former Chatham County sheriff Mike Roberson steps into a new role as a Chatham County Commissioner.
The Morning News: Rani Dasi, Faith Hedgepeth, and Bobby Petrino
In today's news: Rani Dasi discusses her impending move from the CHCCS school board to the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
Shaquille O'Neal Featured Among 2026 Performers for Chapel Thrill Concert Series
UNC has announced its setlist for the 2026 Chapel Thrill Concert Series. The series is part of the school’s “Chapel Thrill Game Day,” which debuted in 2025. The concerts are the centerpiece of the festivities, with the stage located on Polk Place in front of Wilson Library in the heart of the UNC campus. Each […]
The Morning News: Expanding the Arts, Chatham Transit, Michael Lombardi
In today's news: the Eno Arts Mill is set to reopen, UNC moves to expand the Ackland Art Museum, and Michael Lombardi speaks out.
UNC Football Under Microscope Again With Lombardi's Administrative Leave – Stroman On Sports (July 31, 2026)
The Hill's Deborah Stroman and Brighton McConnell chat on Friday, July 31, about UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi landing on administrative leave amid a university-led investigation.
The Morning News: UNC Degree Cuts, Vinfast, Michael Lombardi
In today's news: UNC prepares to cut four degree programs, and Bill Belichick and Lee Roberts weigh in on the Michael Lombardi situation.
›