Mack Brown goes into depth on Sam Howell’s impact on Drake Maye
By Nick Kosko, On3
Sam Howell had a positive impact on North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, so says head coach Mack Brown.
Maye lit it up last season and is firmly in the Heisman conversation in 2023. That was definitely in part to the example Howell showed during his time with the Tar Heels.
Brown broke it down when he gave his UNC football summer update.
“I’m also very proud of (Sam) that he has really mentored Drake,” Brown said. “They talk every day and they play golf together and they hang out together and they’re having so much fun together. Sam’s experience, good and bad, is going to help Drake so much. And for a guy just to have done what he wants to do, I think it’s a wealth of knowledge for him coming in.”
Brown mentioned what he has to do with Maye based on what he saw over the first two years of his development.
“What I have to do with Drake is settle him down because he’s so competitive,” Brown said. “And he’s so hard on himself. He’s like me when I say what happened on the two passes you missed in the spring game? He said, ‘My feet, you know, I gotta get better on my feet.’
“There’s never been two better people to lead your team. I’m so excited about Drake this year. He’s handled NIL so well, he handled the talk about transferring like an adult with me.”