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Mack Brown evaluates Drake Maye's Heisman candidacy

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra11/09/22

SamraSource

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(Halverson/Getty Images)

Mack Brown isn’t ready to send Drake Maye to New York for the Heisman just yet.

Speaking with the media, Brown evaluated Mayes Heisman campaign, but he wants to keep the focus on winning football games at the moment.

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“I think we’ve got to finish the season to see,” stressed Brown. “I remember in talking to so many of the Heisman voters, because we had guys at Texas, and they always say at the end of the year, ‘That’s a Heisman moment.’ That’s what gets you there. It’s got to be a game. 

“You’ve got to win, and you’ve got to keep playing good, so I think it’s too early.”

Alas, Brown is right about keeping the focus on winning, and Maye would say the same. Still, it’s hard not to have dreams of the Tar Heels quarterback winning the award with the season he’s currently putting together.

Paul Finebaum analyzes North Carolina’s strong season, Drake Maye

Continuing, Paul Finebaum was a recent guest on The Dan Patrick Show and gave his thoughts on a few storylines around college football. One of the more intriguing takes he had was on the 8-1 North Carolina Tar Heels.

When asked whether or not North Carolina was as good as your uniforms look, Finebaum was critical of the team but swooned over quarterback Drake Maye.

“The quarterback is, I don’t think they are. And again, I’m really happy for Mac Brown because we were all writing him off last year, saying; he was too old,” said Finebaum.“He was 70 years old. And he has come back with a really nice season here. Unfortunately, he’ll play in an ACC championship game that will be about as off-Broadway as you can get against Clemson.

“But it’s still North Carolina, and they have great uniforms in basketball and football.”

North Carolina has faired far better in 2022 than in recent history. In fact, this is the Tar Heel’s best start since their 2015 season when they ended the year, 11-3, just barely losing to Clemson 45-37 in the ACC championship game. This year’s North Carolina squad appears to be much better on offense, especially at the quarterback position.

In 2015, Marquise Williams was the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback and completed 218 of his 356 pass attempts for 3072 yards. He also had 24 passing touchdowns, 14 rushing, and ten interceptions in 14 games.

Through just eight games this season, Maye has completed 222 of 312 pass attempts for 2964 yards. He’s accounted for 35 touchdowns (31 passing and four rushing) And he has thrown just three interceptions.

Paul Finebaum and Dan Patrick are correct North Carolina uniforms look great., but their play on the field this season has matched the quality of their uniforms.