Mack Brown opens up on what it means for Drake Maye to return to UNC

If you ask coaches around the ACC, there were some bidders going around for North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. And it’s easy to see why, with Maye becoming one of the top players in the country during his first full starting season.

However, money apparently cannot buy all, as Maye will stay with the Tar Heels for another season. Head coach Mack Brown thinks there is a certain loyalty Maye has to North Carolina, being one of many in the family to attend college in Chapel Hill.

“Drake, he loves the University of North Carolina,” UNC head coach Mack Brown said. “His family is a legacy. His dad was a graduate assistant for me. I’m just proud of who he is. The fact that he committed to somebody else early and then flipped back to us.”

North Carolina does more than just provide athletic benefits as well. Perks will rise up later in life, with Maye having great opportunities to do a lot outside of football. That’s an advantage to staying true to your hometown school.

“A lot of these guys, like Drake, he is going to have a great life after football because he is a hero in Charlotte,” Brown said. “So many people at the university look up to him, and we have to look at what’s best for these guys long-term.”

Drake Maye ‘excited’ about new offensive coordinator

A new offensive coordinator will be coming into the program, with Chip Lindsey taking over. Phil Longo had been there for the past three years but bolted in favor of the Wisconsin job under head coach Luke Fickell.

Brown says Maye is excited about the coaching change, even if they will not be involved in the bowl game against Oregon. Focus will soon shift toward the 2023 season and hope to make a bigger splash in the ACC.

“Drake is so excited about our new coaches coming in,” Brown said. “They won’t be coaching in the game, but they’re here. It’s so good now, especially with the transfer portal that they get to know the coaches before they start in January.”

ACC quarterbacks entering transfer portal

Had Maye decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he would have been just the latest quarterback from the ACC to do so. Nearly half of the league’s starters have done so, with Wake Forest‘s Sam Hartman being the latest on Tuesday.

Brown says “it’s hard” to find someone who has the ability to remain loyal such as Maye. You can tell he’s over the moon to have his quarterback return next year.

“But he is a special young guy that loves his school,” Brown said. “It’s cool when somebody can find the right fit. I noticed today… I think there’s seven starting quarterbacks in the ACC, I read a few minutes ago, were transferred. Seven.

“So it’s hard to find that guy. It’s hard to find the fit. And we both have that, and we’re really, really lucky. We couldn’t be happier than to have Drake at North Carolina.”