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UNC Football: Sam Howell named to preseason award watch list

By Blake Cockrum

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 14: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels throws a pass during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on November 14, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 14: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels throws a pass during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on November 14, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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UNC football quarterback Sam Howell has been named to the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award watch list.

If the 2020 college football season actually happens, North Carolina’s Sam Howell will begin it as one of the most decorated and highly-anticipated quarterbacks in the nation. On Tuesday, he was named to the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award watch list.

He joins a host of talented quarterbacks, including seven semifinalists for the 2019 Davey O’Brien Award. Among them are Baylor signal caller Charlie Brewer, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Iowa State Cyclone Brock Purdy, Memphis standout Brady White, Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan, Justin Fields of Ohio State, SMU’s Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger of the Texas Longhorns.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Howell, a sophomore out of Monroe, North Carolina, compiled 3,641 passing yards and 38 touchdowns through the air last season — the most ever by a true freshman. He also ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown and threw just seven interceptions on the season. He had a 61.4 completion percentage on the season, and a passer rating of 160.2.

He posted six games of at least 300 passing yards, and a career-high 401 in a 41-10 road victory over the NC State Wolfpack. He had eight games with at least three touchdown passes, and tossed four or more scores on three occasions. He threw a career-best five touchdowns in a six overtime loss to Virginia Tech in mid-October, and never threw for fewer than two scores in any game over the course of his freshman campaign.

The Tar Heels are a consensus top-25 team to begin the 2020 season, and much of the hype is because of Howell. That’s a lot to put on the back of a 19-year old college sophomore, but Howell didn’t shy away from pressure situations a season ago. He was one of the nation’s most effective quarterbacks in crunch time, and led one of college football’s most potent passing attacks. North Carolina scored no less than 18 points in any one game last season, and scored at least 31 on seven occasions.

Next. Chazz Surratt adds to long list of preseason honors. dark

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

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