Jacolby Criswell injury update: North Carolina QB exits Fenway Bowl vs. UConn after taking hit

North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Jacolby Criswell took a massive hit during the Fenway Bowl against the Connecticut Huskies, which forced him to leave the contest. He has still not returned to the game.

The quarterback scrambled for seven yards on 2nd & 16, taking a blow at the end of the play and staying down with which seemed to be an injury to his shoulder. After a commercial break, Criswell — not moving his arm — walked back to the locker room, while backup Michael Merdinger replaced him under center.

It looks like Criswell’s afternoon is over, but perhaps he could gut it out, with the Tar Heels currently trailing by 10 in the first quarter. The Huskies are off to a roaring start, and North Carolina is missing their starter at the moment.

Criswell is in his fourth season with the Tar Heels and his fifth season of college football overall after spending 2023 with Arkansas. All told, the quarterback passed for 2,452 yards and 15 touchdowns to six interceptions in 2024, while rushing for 96 yards and three touchdowns, as well.

On the other hand, Merdinger hasn’t thrown a pass yet in 2024 until he replaced Criswell after his injury. Perhaps he can shock the Huskies and deliver North Carolina a memorable win in the Fenway Bowl, but it’ll be a trial by fire.

Merdinger, a native of Fort Lauderdale, actually entered the transfer portal earlier this week, but he decided to stick around for the Fenway Bowl. He played high school football at Cardinal Gibbons. He was the No. 918 overall recruit there as a three-star prospect in the 2024 cycle.

Additionally, Merdinger was also rated as a top 60 QB in the class and a top 150 player in the state of Florida. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He joined UNC then as one of the signees in a top 30 recruiting class for them last cycle.