Conner Harrell explains how he balances QB competition with Max Johnson

Conner Harrell has dreams of starting for North Carolina this coming season, but he’s embroiled in a competition with veteran quarterback Max Johnson.

It’s been that way throughout the spring, and the Tar Heels have still declined to name one as their starting quarterback. However, Harrell is looking at the competition with a healthy sense, as he explained how he’s balancing the stress at the moment.

“It’s definitely a tough thing to balance,” Harrell told the media. “But I mean, we’re both great dudes. Both men of God. And we you know, we understand we’re competing, but we understand like, we’re just people, and you know, we’re trying to help each other and you know, talk about everything.

“We’re the only two people that are going through what we’re going through. Nobody else in the country is in this place at this time, and when somebody is going through what you’re going through, you kind of bond. No one else has that experience. So I think it’s been good.”

Regardless, Harrell has his work cut out for him if he wants to win the job, as Johnson has 22 career starts to his name, with many of them coming in the SEC. So he’s played against elite competition and had some success.

The veteran quarterback has thrown for 5,853 yards and 47 touchdowns, against just 12 interceptions. Regardless, Harrell won’t be intimidated, as he’s done what he can over the last several months to put himself into position to win the gig.

The bond between the two quarterbacks is strong, but we’ll see if it remains so, as Conner Harrell and Max Johnson compete to see who gets to lead the Tar Heels into battle next season.

Conner Harrell breaks down his performance in QB competition so far

Moreover, Harrell remained with the team and has been in the system, while Johnson arrived by way of Texas A&M and had to spend a good deal of spring simply getting up to speed. Both felt things went well, though. A sophomore, Harrell broke down how he tried to attack the spring.

“Approaching it I told myself just do the best that I can do,” Harrell said. “Some things are out of my control, some things are in my control. The main thing that’s in my control, I have to work the hardest, I have to watch as much film as I can, I have to lead as much as I can. Control all the controllables and not try to worry about all the outside stuff too much, because that stuff’s just not important.”

If the spring game was any indication, Harrell has a real shot to win the job despite Johnson’s superior experience at the college level. Official stats weren’t kept for the game, but Harrell finished with three touchdown passes.

That was a solid day’s work, though he noted the coaching staff is looking for a lot more than just touchdown tosses.

“They’re looking at a lot of little stuff,” Conner Harrell said. “Our footwork they’ve made a huge emphasis on, getting the ball out quick and not wanting to take sacks. Not turning the ball over is a huge point of emphasis for everybody, but that’s a big thing they measure us on.

“And then just making good decisions. Making good decisions over and over and being consistent, that’s what they’re measuring us on. And they’re doing a good job letting us know what they want out of us. I think every coach in the room is doing a good job of making sure that we know what they want us to work on.”

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this article.