The 2018-19 recruiting cycle is coming to a close and the final recruiting rankings have UNC quarterback Sam Howell finishing as a four-star recruit and Top-100 player in the nation.

Howell, who has already enrolled in Chapel Hill, finishes the recruiting cycle as the No. 93 recruit in the country per the 247 Sports Composite, which blends the rankings of the four major recruiting platforms.

This ranking makes Howell the highest ranked quarterback that the Tar Heels have signed since Bryn Renner (No. 79) in 2009.

Howell’s recruitment also signified the first major recruiting victory for Mack Brown, who preached the importance of winning in-state recruiting battles.

“You’ve got to win at home in recruiting before you go out of state,” Brown said in his opening press conference. “Because if the locals won’t come, why would an out-of-state guy that’s really good want to come?”

Howell, a Charlotte native, is the second-highest ranked recruit within North Carolina this year. Only Tennessee signee Quavaris Crouch, also of Charlotte, is ranked higher.

A longtime Florida State commit, Howell flipped to the Tar Heels during the early signing period in December and enrolled at UNC shortly afterwards.

Enrolling early in Chapel Hill also gives Howell a head start on learning from new UNC offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who comes to Chapel Hill after leading prolific offenses at Ole Miss and Sam Houston State.

“I’m really excited about Longo,” Howell told reporters after signing with the Tar Heels. “He did a really good job at Ole Miss and he’s a really good offensive coordinator. I’m real excited to play for him just because I know what Coach Longo can do as far as developing quarterbacks.”

A four-year varsity starter for Monroe (NC) Sun Valley, Howell threw for 13,415 yards and 145 touchdowns and added another 3,621 yards rushing and 60 more scores on the ground.

Currently, Carolina is projected to return four scholarship quarterbacks next season in sophomores Cade Fortin and Jace Ruder, junior Chazz Surratt and senior Nathan Elliott.

But with a new head coach and offensive coordinator in town, the competition for the starting quarterback job will be wide open.

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