Carolina seems like it has a plan for Sam Howell.

When the top 2020 Heisman Trophy candidates came out recently, UNC rising sophomore star Sam Howell was somehow 30-to-1 — despite his record-breaking freshman season. In his pre-spring practice press conference this week, Mack Brown barely mentioned Howell in discussing his next UNC team.

When I asked Brown about balancing the expectations for Howell, the face of the Tar Heels this fall, Mack smiled and said, “We’re going to coach him real hard, every single day.”

Was that a little coach-speak for making sure Howell can freely lead Carolina into the ACC championship game without shouldering too much personal pressure?

Let’s say Howell has another great season, with a more chiseled body that will make him stronger and quicker as a runner, since Jace Ruder is healthy again to back him up. Brown acknowledged that after Ruder got injured, he and Phil Longo were careful not to put No. 7 in harm’s way without a scholarship second-stringer available.

So, in simple terms, Howell improves his all-around game, leads the Heels to 9 or 10 wins and a date against Clemson in Charlotte. Brown said one reason Howell hasn’t gotten any Heisman mention is that his team only went 7-6. Trophy candidates need to play for championship contenders.

Let’s say Carolina pulls off a Coastal Division or even an ACC title? What will the expectations be for Howell as a junior, his third and perhaps his last college season? By then, Trevor Lawrence will be gone and whoever Dabo Swinney finds to replace him can’t be as good.

Howell plays for a ranked team in 2021 and is definitely in the Heisman conversation. That can’t happen if Howell has a sophomore slump of sorts and Carolina fails to live up to expectations as a Coastal favorite. It’s why Brown’s team-first narrative is also perfect for his quarterback to emerge as not only a great player but the consummate leader and teammate.

Then Sam Howell will also be a true Heisman hopeful.

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