Mack Brown credits North Carolina high schools for producing bowl-eligible college teams

The ACC might not have the top-end firepower of some of the other Power 5 conferences this season, but one thing it is not lacking in is bowl-eligible teams from the state of North Carolina. The credit for much of that, UNC coach Mack Brown said this week, should go to North Carolina high schools.

The UNC head coach took time to shout out local programs this week, even as his team continues its run at an ACC title.

“You also have to give credit to schools in the state of North Carolina this year,” Brown said. “Duke‘s already bowl eligible, NC State‘s bowl eligible, we’re bowl eligible, Wake‘s bowl eligible, East Carolina and App State‘s gonna be. So for high school football in this state, it’s really impressive to see this many schools that have a chance to have great seasons and winning seasons.”

North Carolina itself has been powered by one of the state’s top prospects: quarterback Drake Maye.

Maye has been vocal about how much ‘putting on for Charlotte’ means to him this season, and he’s been doing it as well as you possibly could. He became the first freshman in FBS history with 30 touchdowns through nine games, while also emerging as a Heisman Trophy favorite.

He’s one of dozens and dozens of players from the area helping North Carolina college football programs have so much success this season.

“That’s a compliment to the high school programs in this state, because there’s a lot of programs here and you have to feed those programs with high school players largely from this state,” Brown said. “Great compliment to the high school coaches to have that many teams eligible.”

North Carolina high schools powering excellent year for ‘Big 4’

While No. 15 North Carolina leads the way in the state right now, the other ‘Big 4’ programs are not far behind. NC State checks in at No. 16 in the country with a 7-2 record. Wake Forest has been ranked at times this year, sitting at 6-3 currently. Duke is also 6-3, having earned bowl eligibility a week ago.

For all four to be playing in the postseason a lot of quality depth was required.

“I think, and I might be wrong, but somebody told me this morning it’s the first time that the Big 4 have been eligible for a bowl at the same time,” Brown said. “So that’s unbelievable. First time ever. Then Mike Elko‘s done an amazing job, Dave’s doing a great job. Both Daves, Dave Doeren and Dave Clawson.

“So all four of these programs are flourishing right now and it makes it exciting for fans with the rivalry, but also I think the biggest thing is the credit should go back to the high school coaches because they’re producing the players that we’re all trying to get.”

North Carolina will hit the road this weekend to take on one of the Big 4 programs also benefiting from so much local talent. North Carolina and Wake Forest will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday with a broadcast on ESPN2.