Sam Howell takes stage as UNC’s quarterback frontrunner
UNC coach Mack Brown has elevated QBC NC trainee Sam Howell to frontrunner status in the battle for the Tar Heels’ starting job. Howell is taking snaps with UNC’s first team with the Tar Heels’ season opener just around the corner (August 30 vs. South Carolina). As reported by Greg Barnes of Inside Carolina:
Brown acknowledged early in camp that one of the negatives of a three-man quarterback competition was that leadership became a difficult objective, since no one was in command of the offense. Howell has displayed both an ability and a willingness to lead, which should ratchet up rapidly as the Tar Heels turn their full attention to the Gamecocks.
Howell has a quiet confidence about him, according to his teammates. He’s not a rowdy, take-charge type of quarterback, but rather prefers to lead by pulling his teammates to the side for encouragement. What has stood out about the true freshman quarterback has been his consistency and poise since the day he stepped foot on campus in January. Howell is a competitor who gets after it in the weight room and on the practice field, which has earned him respect in the locker room.