UNC Football freshman named a player to watch this season

A freshman on the UNC Football team was named as a player to watch for this upcoming 2019 season by Rivals

Mack Brown was able to put together an impressive 2019 football recruiting class despite being on the job for just a few months.

In his second stint with the North Carolina Tar Heels football program, Brown turned in the No. 32 overall class for 2019 and No. 6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The class is filled with talented players that Brown hopes help the Tar Heels get back on track.

One of the prized recruits in that class is four-star quarterback Sam Howell, a former Florida State commit that flipped to UNC on the early National Signing Day back in November. Landing Howell was huge for the Tar Heels especially after they have struggled with consistency at the position since Mitchell Trubisky left following the 2016 season.

As we head into the 2019 season, Howell is in a quarterback battle with both Jace Ruder and Cade Fortin for the starting job. There hasn’t been a winner for the job just yet and Brown will likely wait a few more days to make his decision.

Earlier this week Rivals released an article on six freshman in the ACC that will have the biggest impact. Among the players listed from Clemson, Florida State, Miami and Wake Forest, Howell was the lone Tar Heel. Here is what analysts Adam Gorney and Mike Farrell wrote on Howell:

"There is a three-way competition for the starting quarterback job, with returnees Cade Fortinand Jace Ruder and then Howell. The season opener might not be Howell’s opening act, but the former four-star quarterback should see the field sooner rather than later.I don’t see a redshirt year for Howell as he’s too important of a recruit for Brown to let sit and watch. The quarterback situation isn’t solidified at UNC and Howell has a live arm and a ton of talent. You know UNC didn’t steal him from Florida State by promising a redshirt year, so keep an eye on him."

Howell has a good shot to win the starting quarterback job and start Week 1 vs. South Carolina but even if he doesn’t, the freshman should still have an impact this season. He’s considered the future of the position for the Tar Heels and could be the big key if UNC does indeed turn things around.

With Brown and his staff adding playmakers to the offense and building a good defense with the 2019 and 2020 classes, the future is bright for UNC. They now just have to translate that to the field and put together winning seasons.

For more on Howell and the UNC Football program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.