UNC Football: ESPN reporter picks Sam Howell to win Heisman

This college football reporter believes that the UNC football signal caller will win this year’s Heisman Trophy Award.

Week 1 of the college football season is finally here. As the UNC football program prepares for opening kickoff on Friday night, the college football world waits to see what Sam Howell has in store for year three in Chapel Hill.

Prior to the much-anticipated start to the season, ESPN had their reporters put together their annual preview. Some of the topics that the panel discussed include (but are not limited to): coaches who are under the most pressure, potential breakout stars, games they are excited to watch, as well as their pick for the Heisman Trophy Award.

David Hale got the ball rolling on the Heisman discussion, and tabbed Howell as his pick to win the award. Here’s why Hale considers Howell his favorite to win the Heisman:

"Three things go into winning the Heisman Trophy. First, it helps to be a quarterback (unless you play for Alabama). Second, while it’s not a necessity to make the playoff, your team has to spend most of the season competing inside the top 10. Lastly, you’ve got to put up some eye-popping numbers. Howell checks all the boxes. He enters the year as arguably the nation’s best QB, UNC is a preseason dark horse for the College Football Playoff, and Phil Longo’s offensive scheme means Howell will have every chance to pad his stats with some truly ridiculous numbers. Is 40 touchdown passes within reach? If so, he’d set the ACC’s career record in the process."

Based on Hale’s scale, Howell should be a very logical candidate. Expectations are very high for the UNC football program, as many feel that the Tar Heels will not only make a strong push in the ACC, but will also be serious contenders for the college football playoff.

If North Carolina does, in fact, have a stellar season, Howell would most certainly be one of the main reasons why. Coming off a strong sophomore campaign, it’s likely that head coach Mack Brown and offensive coordinator Phil Longo will rely on their junior signal-caller to take on an even heavier load in the team’s offense.

With a strong junior season, Howell will not only be in the Heisman mix, but will be in consideration to be the top quarterback off the board in next year’s NFL Draft. Now, we have a long ways to go for that, and there’s a lot of football to be played, but based on what we know about Sam Howell, expect him to accomplish great things for the UNC football program this upcoming season.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates regarding Sam Howell and the rest of the UNC football program.