As the 2021 college football season draws closer, UNC junior quarterback Sam Howell was named a preseason First Team All-American on Thursday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Along with the return of Hall-of-Fame head coach Mack Brown for a second tenure in Chapel Hill prior to the 2019 season, Howell has played a starring role in the transformation of the Tar Heel program.

The native of Indian Trail, North Carolina flipped his commitment from Florida State to UNC following Brown’s arrival and has gone on to become arguably the top quarterback in the country heading into the 2021 campaign.

Last season saw Howell throw for 3,586 yards and 30 touchdowns while leading UNC to an appearance in the Orange Bowl, the program’s first major bowl appearance since 1950. He was a Second Team All-ACC selection due to the presence of Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence — the No. 1 pick of the 2021 NFL Draft — on the First Team, and was a finalist for the Manning Award.

As a true freshman in 2019, Howell set a new UNC single-season record with 38 touchdown passes and threw for 3,641 yards across the Tar Heels’ 13 games.

Howell currently sits fifth on the school’s all-time passing yardage list at 7,227 and is tied with Darian Durant for the all-time touchdown mark at 68. Those 68 touchdown passes are the most through a sophomore season in ACC history.

He needs just 2,150 yards in 2021 to pass yardage leader T.J. Yates (9,377) on the school’s all-time list.

 

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
‹
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.
Amid Cloud of Uncertainty, UNC Football Opens 2026 Fall Training Camp
UNC took the field in Chapel Hill Thursday morning to open its fall training camp. Despite prognostications of doom and a gamut of negative press, it appears the Tar Heels will, in fact, play football in 2026. The bizarre headlines trickling out of the Kenan Football Center had no doubt cast a pall over things: […]
Belichick Mum on Michael Lombardi Situation, While UNC Chancellor Vows Investigation Will 'Fix It'
UNC head coach Bill Belichick addressed the media at the Kenan Football Center as the Tar Heels opened their fall training camp Thursday morning. It was Belichick’s first public appearance since the university announced Monday that general manager Michael Lombardi was being put on paid administrative leave for what is being reported as an HR […]
Chansky's Notebook: Needs to Go...Now
With Michael Lombardi put onto administrative leave, UNC Athletics Director Steve Newmark has a tough, but clear, decision to make.
›