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UNC Football: Sam Howell named way too early All-American for 2021

By Zack Pearson

ANNAPOLIS, MD - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back to throw a pass in the first half against the Temple Owls in the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2019 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
ANNAPOLIS, MD - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back to throw a pass in the first half against the Temple Owls in the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2019 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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UNC Football quarterback Sam Howell earns some high preseason praise by ESPN ahead of the 2021 college football season

Fresh off an 8-4 season and an Orange Bowl appearance, the expectations are high for the UNC Football program going into 2021. The Tar Heels will be the favorites to win the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division and return the majority of the starters from that Orange Bowl game.

That includes Heisman Trophy candidate Sam Howell at quarterback.

The former four-star recruit is coming off another impressive season at UNC finishing his sophomore campaign breaking Trevor Lawrence’s record for most touchdowns through the first two seasons of his career. Howell has been fantastic for the Tar Heels in his first two seasons and now he’s expected to take another step in his junior season.

Just like the Tar Heels, the expectations are high for Howell as well.

On Tuesday, ESPN released their Way Too Early Preseason All-America Team for the 2021 season and Howell was listed as the lone quarterback on the list. Here is what ESPN’s Chris Low had to say about Howell and the All-American selection for the upcoming season:

"In his first two seasons, Howell has thrown more touchdown passes (68) than Lawrence did in his first two seasons at Clemson (66). That’s pretty good company, and after a sophomore season that saw the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Howell pass for 3,586 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions, he could be looking at a Heisman Trophy campaign in 2021. Howell has been at his best late in games, as he threw 19 touchdowns and no interceptions in the fourth quarter."

Howell has finished behind Trevor Lawrence for All-ACC First Team at quarterback the previous two seasons but with the Clemson star bolting for the NFL, Howell should take the reigns as the top quarterback in the conference. He will have competition, however as Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei and D’Eriq King will challenge him in conference.

In terms of national competition, Howell’s biggest threats will be Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler, Alabama’s Bryce Young and the previously mentioned Uiagalelei  and King.

Howell will also be in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, especially if he keeps his hot play up in his junior season.

Next. Sam Howell named a Heisman favorite. dark

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