UNC Football: Sam Howell breaks ACC passing touchdown record

Sam Howell made some Atlantic Coast Conference history in Saturday’s Orange Bowl game against Texas A&M

UNC Football quarterback Sam Howell has been the starter since the day he stepped foot on the Chapel Hill campus. After flipping him late in the 2018 recruiting period from Florida State, the Tar Heels knew they had a special talent.

Howell has been fantastic for the Tar Heels in his now two years as the starter and helped lead them to the Orange Bowl here in the 2020 season.  And now, Howell has made some Atlantic Coast Conference history.

During the third quarter of Saturday’s Orange Bowl vs. Texas A&M, Howell threw his second touchdown pass of the game. That touchdown pass was No. 67 in Howell’s career with the Tar Heels and that passed Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence for the most passing touchdowns through a sophomore season in ACC history. He also passed Jameis Winston who was second on the list behind Lawrence.

Check out Howell’s touchdown pass below:

https://twitter.com/TarHeelFootball/status/1345572140058353668

The touchdown pass was a simple wheel route to freshman receiver Josh Downs, who is seeing extended minutes with Dyami Brown out for the game. In the second quarter, Howell hit senior Dazz Newsome for a long touchdown pass to give the Tar Heels the lead.

Having a player like Downs get some experience in a big bowl game could prove to be huge in terms of replacing both Brown and Newsome in terms of production.

With one more year left at UNC, Howell is on track to be a potential No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Lawrence is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in this year’s NFL Draft and will likely go No. 1.

For more on the UNC Football program, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.