Category: Football

Former NCCU QB finds niche as ESPN draft analyst, many UNC prospects

CHAPEL HILL — Jordan Reid has been living a dream since November when ESPN put him on the air as an NFL draft analyst. An N.C. Central quarterback from 2010–13 and a three-year starter, he spent his first five years after graduation as an assistant coach at his alma mater when the Eagles won three MEAC titles. But Reid realized something he “always wanted to do” was evaluating players and decided to “take a chance on myself.”

Tar Heels in NFL: Howell plays entire game, looks sharp for Washington; Trubisky solidifies starting spot; Chandler impressive; Newsome, 3 others released

While Sam Howell, at least initially, isn’t likely to play a significant regular-season role for the Washington Commanders, he took advantage of a chance to show his talent in their final exhibition game. The rookie quarterback got every snap of Washington’s 17–15 road loss Saturday at Baltimore. Although he couldn’t lead the Commanders to a victory, he was impressive, going 24 of 35 for 280 yards with a touchdown, no interceptions and a 102.1 passer rating. He also had eight carries for 62 yards, including a 13-yard run.

Maye, RBs impress as much as defense disappoints in UNC win

CHAPEL HILL — Drake Maye quickly threw away any concerns about Carolina’s quarterback situation after Sam Howell’s departure, and the Tar Heels’ young running backs looked impressive. Still, other worries from last season popped up against a short-handed FCS team Saturday. While Maye looked poised and polished, his offensive line wasn’t much better than the one Howell played with at times. Although the defense made some big plays, it couldn’t contain the passing game of a Florida A&M team missing three starters and many top reserves much of the night.

Maye to start for UNC at QB in opener but Criswell will also play

Ultimately, the legacy quarterback who flipped his original commitment from powerhouse Alabama won Carolina’s starting quarterback battle. Redshirt Drake Maye, the brother of former basketball star Luke Maye (2015–19) and the son of former quarterback Mark Maye (1983–88), will start Saturday’s 8:15 p.m. season opener against Florida A&M (ACC Network), getting the nod in a close competition with Jacolby Criswell.

Tar Heels in NFL: Trubisky plays well on 28th birthday despite poor blocking; Howell inconsistent; Smith, Surratt play well

While quarterback Mitch Trubisky was pretty effective on his 28th birthday Saturday despite playing behind a struggling offensive line, Sam Howell was more inconsistent after an impressive NFL exhibition debut. In Pittsburgh’s 16–15 Saturday victory over Jacksonville, Trubisky completed 5 of 8 passes for 60 yards, including a 29-yard gain, and had a 10-yard run in his 15 snaps. Although he had no interceptions, he also had no touchdown passes and an 85.4 passer rating. His three drives only produced a field goal, and one drive was a three-and-out.

Tre Boston co-host for new ACCN show; two ACCN shows to air at UNC next week

Former UNC and NFL defensive back Tre Boston will be a co-host for a new ACC Network weekday program that debuts Monday. Boston, Mark Packer and Taylor Tannebaum will be co-hosts for “ACC PM,” a football-focused program on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It will be broadcast from the same studio in the basement of Packer’s Charlotte home used for the weekday morning show “Packer and Durham,” which was discontinued earlier this summer, with the last episode July 1.

ACC Network will air UNC games in several fall sports

Highlighted by the field hockey battle against fellow national power Iowa, North Carolina teams will appear on ACC Network this fall several times. There will be 12 Tar Heels games involving football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, field hockey and volleyball on the network. That total will likely rise, with the football opener at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 unlikely to be the only ACCN appearance for Coach Mack Brown’s team.

Woody Durham treasured note from Vin Scully

Sports broadcasting legend Vin Scully, who died Tuesday at the age of 94, made the day of another broadcast legend with a note he sent. Scully, the iconic Hall of Fame baseball announcer who called Dodgers games for 67 years, first in Brooklyn and then in Los Angeles, sent a note on Los Angeles Dodgers stationery to Woody Durham. It congratulated the longtime Voice of the Tar Heels, who passed away in 2018, on his career.

Tar Heels in NFL: Williams, Trubisky, Ezeudu projected starters; Hollins turning heads; 29 UNC alums in camps

Bolstered by eight rookies — three with the New York Giants — the number of Tar Heels in NFL camps is a mammoth 29 players, with some fighting for roster spots, many battling to move up the depth charts and others projected to start. Some of the headliners in camps have been running back Javonte Williams, quarterback Mitch Trubisky, wide receiver Mack Hollins and offensive guard Joshua Ezeudu.

UNC takes attitude adjustment into the football season

CHARLOTTE — The three bywords that Carolina coach Mack Brown has emphasized to his team after a frustrating losing season are passion, accountability and toughness. With all three of those, he’s convinced that the narrow late-season road losses to Pittsburgh and N.C. State would have been victories and there would have been a lot more positive vibes at the end of the season.