Mack Brown discusses possible Heisman campaign for Drake Maye

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye had a hot start to his freshman season, which quickly turned into more than just a start. This season Maye has been putting up monster numbers, not just for a freshman but for anybody, and has led the Tar Heels to a 7-1 record as they remain unbeaten in conference play. Head coach Mack Brown was asked about his quarterback’s impressive season so far, and if it was possible to maybe create some more Heisman Trophy buzz around his freshman phenom.

“I feel like it takes care of itself, everybody knows he’s good and he was kind of the hype early and then people are wondering when he was gon mess up, there’s a freshman game in there somewhere, and so far he hadn’t done that,” Brown said. “So I think he just keeps doing what he’s doing and people keep looking at it and it is what it is.”

The Tar Heels have never had a Heisman Trophy winner in school history, and haven’t had a finalist since halfback Charlie Justice finished as the runner-up for the award in back-to-back seasons in 1948 and 1949. But Maye’s play as of late may just earn him an invite to New York in December, as he currently sits at +4,000 odds of taking home the award (the ninth-highest odds of all players).

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“But he’s starting to be recognized as one of the best in the country and I think that’s a positive note for us and him. You worry about a guy that young getting that much attention, but Ross, I don’t think it bothers him at all,” Brown said to a reporter. “You all see him all the time and he’s never different for me, he’s still mad that he missed two passes in the game from Saturday night.”

Maye’s latest performance against Pitt was nothing short of a masterpiece, as he completed 77% of his passes for 388 yards and five touchdown passes, his third five-touchdown pass performance of the season. Maye also led the team in rushing with 61 yards on the ground as he led the Heels to a 42-24 victory.

“I get amazed that you get so into the game, after the game I see the stats, I see he throws for that many yards and five touchdowns and you just don’t think about it during the game, he makes it look so easy. But I think the award stuff takes care of itself, we’ve just got to keep winning,” Brown said.

Maye is currently tied for the national lead in touchdown passes with Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud with 29 so far this season. He also ranks fourth nationally in total passing yards and third in passer rating, proving himself as one of the most efficient and dominant quarterbacks in the country this season.

He’s led the Tar Heels to an undefeated record in the month of October, and if he can finish out the season the same way he’s started it, he may find himself in New York this December.