Mack Brown explains how UNC's offense changes with Conner Harrell at quarterback

North Carolina will be moving on from Drake Maye on Wednesday with the first collegiate start for Conner Harrell. Maye’s decision to opt-out of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl will throw Harrell right into the fire in his first true action at this level.

Still, Mack Brown isn’t too concerned about his redshirt freshman quarterback. As he pointed out during his press conference from Charlotte on Tuesday, Harrell as a person alone is someone who’s more than capable of taking his challenge on.

“Conner? He’s a wonderful young man,” said Brown. “He was valedictorian of Thompson High School, he was 25-2 as a starter at Thompson High School, he was Most Valuable Player in the state of Alabama, won three state championships. So he’s a wonderful young person.”

Brown also isn’t concerned because Harrell as a player has prepared well over the last few weeks. While he admits there will be some nerves in play, he says he has taken this opportunity to start against West Virginia in stride

“I think he has handled it really well,” said Brown. “He seems like it’s his deal. He’s running it, he has got more snaps in two weeks than he has gotten in two years. Probably sleep differently tonight than he would’ve if Drake was playing. It’ll be a little more uncomfortable, little more exciting, little more anxiety.”

In few snaps this season, Harrell went 4-6 overall for 71 yards and a score. He also rushed for 50 yards on the season and put in another touchdown on the ground.

Now, with him as QB1, North Carolina will have a much different look than they’ve had with Maye. That leaves a lot of questions that the Tar Heels have to answer in order for their offense to run as smoothly.

“He’s totally different from Drake – not as tall, faster. But Drake is one of the best throwers in the country,” said Brown. “What we’ve been doing here for the last two weeks is trying to figure out Conner’s offense right now – what do we do?”

“What do we do different, what can we change?” Brown asked. “We’re down our starting center so we had to move a guard to center. How much can you change your offensive line, your offensive schemes, and still do what you want to do?”

North Carolina has seen few other quarterbacks besides Sam Howell or Maye over Brown’s second, five-year stint in Chapel Hill. That leaves Harrell as the latest to give it a go at the position, something that Brown is excited to see once the team takes the field inside Bank of America Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

“I’ve been pleased,” said Brown. “Conner has looked good in practice so I’m excited about watching him play

“It’ll be interesting to watch him play but it’ll be fun to watch him play,” said Brown.