Jacolby Criswell opens up on competing with Drake Maye for UNC quarterback job

North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Jacolby Criswell is in the midst of a heated competition with redshirt freshman Drake Maye for the starting job in the upcoming 2022 season. Both were waiting in the wings as Sam Howell‘s backups and have little in-game experience.

Last week, Criswell described the nature of their relationship as teammates and fierce competitors.

“First when we got here, it was kind of tough because we knew that we were both battling, so, not many words were said in the beginning,” Criswell shared during his summer press conference. “Now, as we’ve gotten used to it and used to what we’re supposed to be doing, we got into film and the competitive edge is always going to be there, if coach asks a question, one of us is going to be the first to answer, so we’re doing that.

“But we’re making sure to hang out after. When Sam comes to town, we all go hang out together, just those types of things. Making sure the guys see that there’s no type of beef between us, we’re cool as can be, that type of thing.”

In 2021, Criswell had 21 pass attempts completing 13 of them for 179 yards and a touchdown. Maye had ten pass attempts completing seven of them for 189 yards and a touchdown.

Criswell is a former four-star prospect out of Arkansas. He signed with UNC in the 2020 class as the No. 263 recruit in the nation, per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

UNC quarterback competition about to heat up

As of now, North Carolina head coach Mack Brown has yet to name a starter but the competition will get real in a few weeks during fall camp.

Neither player stood out over the other in UNC’s spring game in April. Maye finished 9-of-12 passing for 113 yards and two touchdowns while Criswell went a perfect 6-of-6 passing for 104 yards and a touchdown. Brown said he liked what he saw from both.

“They’re a lot alike,” the coach said in a press conference following the spring game. “If you look at them every day, people say, ‘Ah, they’re just saying that to keep ’em both here.’ We’re not. They’re a lot alike. Both of them have quick arms and can throw the ball deep. They’re both accurate. They both can run. Jacolby’s got more experience because people forget he’s been here two years now and had a lot more reps. But the biggest thing is, who’s gonna throw to the right guy? Who’s gonna be the most accurate? And the other thing is who’s getting the ball out of their hands?”