Mack Brown calls Drake Maye the No. 1 quarterback in the country

With several of 2022’s top quarterbacks gone and off to the NFL Draft, the discussion has moved to which quarterbacks are likely to lead the nation in 2023. North Carolina‘s Drake Maye has a definite place in that discussion.

In fact, a recent ESPN ranking of the top 10 college football quarterbacks in 2023 pegged Maye No. 3, behind USC‘s Caleb Williams and Washington‘s Michael Penix Jr.

North Carolina coach Mack Brown was having none of that.

“Drake’s No. 1, to me. One hundred percent,” Brown said.

The North Carolina coach had quite a bit to say about prognostication season, too, which is when no football is being played but opinions are still flying around nevertheless.

“I worked for ESPN for five years. Those are called opinions, and it really doesn’t matter. The opinion that will matter the most to Drake is me and Chip Lindsey and Clyde Christensen and Freddie Kitchens during the season. The opinions that matter the most to Drake after that are the NFL, and then we’ll know for sure.”

How much of a stretch is some of the prognostication that goes on? Brown shed some light on that.

“But I remember when I was at ESPN, they always went, as soon as the national championship game was over, they’d send us an e-mail, ‘Who’s next year’s national champion?'” Brown said. “I said, ‘Oh my God, I haven’t even thought about it. We don’t know who’s hurt, we don’t know who’s coming back.’ They said, ‘I don’t care, give us four.’ So we gave them four. Those are really subjective, but I don’t worry about that stuff.”

Mack Brown breaks down Drake Maye’s qualities

Brown clearly believes his quarterback is the top gunslinger in the country, and he’s had ample reason to believe that after Maye threw for 4,321 yards and accounted for 45 touchdowns last season.

The long-time head coach broke down some of Maye’s best attributes.

“He’s real smart. A valedictorian of his high school at Thompson High School,” Brown said. “He knows how to win. I think he was 25-1 and won two or three state championships.”

But the biggest feather in his cap?

“He can run. So he’s got the good arm but he is so fast,” Brown said. “In modern day, as we watch it, it’s hard for defenses to stop quarterbacks that can run. And you get that third and four situation or third down and five and everybody’s spread out, and the Colt McCoys and the Vince Youngs for years have been able to run and make that first down, and it’s just nearly impossible to stop. And if they blitz or come after him, they’ve got a short throw. So I see him being a guy who can really hurt you with his feet and with his arm.”

After two years at UNC, Maye stands to be one of the top NFL Draft prospects for 2024, assuming he can replicate some of his success from a year ago.