Drake Maye explains his relationship with Sam Howell, following in his footsteps as a Carolina kid

As he navigates through his first season as a college starter, North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is thankful to still have Sam Howell on his side.

Maye spent his true freshman season in 2021 as a backup to Howell, a three-year Tar Heels starting quarterback who ended his career as the program’s all-time passing leader. Howell was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft to the Washington Commanders, but has still been there for Maye with any advice he needs.

When Maye scored his first career rushing touchdown in Week 1 against Appalachian State, none other than Howell was there on the sidelines to give him a high five. The pair also had another moment on the field together postgame.

“He just happened to be down there in that corner,” Maye said. “I think he was getting ready to do an interview or something. But he was over there on the sidelines in between drives saying some stuff.”

Drake Maye picks up his 1st career rushing touchdown and who is there to greet him in the end zone?

Sam Howell. pic.twitter.com/G3QTytvXKu

— Isaac Schade (@isaacschade) September 3, 2022

Drake Maye said his relationship with Sam Howell began when the former was in high school and being recruited by UNC. Once he arrived on campus last season, the two continued to strengthen their bond as the Tar Heels finished 6-7. Now even with Howell gone, they are still in contact regularly.

“I knew him a little bit in high school,” Maye said. “He was always great to me. He’s always been a big supporter and I’ve been a big supporter of him. I still talk to him on a weekly basis. He’s one of my best friends. Seeing what he did here is pretty cool. I’m just trying to follow in those footsteps and maybe be half the player he was.”

Maye’s starting debut surpassed that of even Howell, as he set a school record for most touchdown passes in a first career start with five in Week 0 against Florida A&M. He threw for four more the next week against Appalachian State in addition to 352 yards passing and 76 yards rushing.

Both Howell and Maye are North Carolina natives, and Maye said that’s also part of the reason he feels a connection to him. For Maye, who is also the son of former UNC quarterback Mark Maye, he never dreamed of playing anywhere else but Chapel Hill.

“I didn’t want to miss out on home state, seeing Sam being a hometown kid too,” he said. “Whether you want to admit it or not, if you grow in Carolina, you’re a Carolina fan. Some people may say (NC) State, but really if you go to State you can’t get into Carolina. At the end of the day, playing for North Carolina is what a lot of people from North Carolina want to do. So I didn’t wanna miss out on that, and then obviously the family history and stuff.”

So far this season, Maye has Carolina off to a 3-0. Coming off a bye week, the Tar Heels are scheduled to kick off against Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m. ET at home.