Drake Maye reveals advice from North Carolina alum family members

Though he might now be North Carolina’s starting quarterback, Drake Maye is still not the most impressive Tar Heel in his family, at least not yet. His dad, Mark, was the starting quarterback for UNC in the 1980s and his brother, Luke Maye, is a former UNC basketball great.

But since being named the starter recently, Maye has gotten some advice and support from his dad and older brother. One of the messages they instilled was that this is just the start, and proving himself on the field is where it really matters, Maye said.

“He’s excited for me,” Maye said about speaking with Luke. “We always talk about — one thing he says is ‘Just gotta go out and do it.’ So he’s just, obviously the work he’s put in through his career is just kind of inspirational for me. He’s done it on a bigger level than me, so far. So, just kind listen to what he’s got to say and listen to his ways of doing things — helped him out and probably beneficial for me to follow.”

Through his whole life, Maye was coached by his dad. As head coach until middle school and as quarterback coach until college. While he might not know the ins-and-outs and the North Carolina offense like his son, dad will always be there offering pointers on mechanics, drop backs and the minutiae of the position.

“I think he’s been a little more distant since I got to college, kind of let me go and figure it out,” Maye said. “Probably because he’s not in the meetings and doesn’t really know the extent of how each progression goes and stuff. But with the whole thing, drop mechanics, he’s always going to be there giving me his two cents.” 

Maye has two other brothers — Cole, who won a national title in baseball at Florida, and Beau, who is also currently enrolled at UNC — and growing up things were naturally competitive. And they still are, though mom and dad have convinced the brothers to keep it mostly to ping pong so they don’t get hurt.

“Growing up I think 2-on-2 basketball, having four boys, was pretty competitive,” Maye said. “Ping pong nowadays, just because as we’re getting older our parents want us to keep off each other physically so we don’t get injured. And then, honest truth, actually our grades were pretty competitive. You know, mom and dad instilled in us, good grades in the classroom before being an athlete. So just competing with grades. The best report card.”