UNC Football: Sam Howell named semi-finalist for this award

The UNC Football program is coming off a big win at home against No. 9 Wake Forest, saving their bowl hopes with just three games remaining. And a big reason why UNC won that game was quarterback Sam Howell.

The junior played well in the win over Wake Forest and while some may say it’s been a disappointing year for a preseason Heisman favorite, Howell is earning some praise here as the year winds down.

On Tuesday, Howell was one of 20 players named a semi-finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award which honors the nation’s best college quarterback for that season. The award will name three finalists later in the season before naming the winner during the College Football awards show.

Here is the full list of semifinalists announced on Tuesday

Brennan Armstrong, Virginia
Stetson Bennett, Georgia
Anthony Brown, Oregon
Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Jake Haener, Fresno State
Frank Harris, UTSA
Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Sam Howell, North Carolina
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
Tanner Mordecai, SMU
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Will Rogers, Mississippi State
Carson Strong, Nevada
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Caleb Williams, Oklahoma
Malik Willis, Liberty
Bryce Young, Alabama
Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky

Howell is 20th in the nation with 2,408 passing yards, 16th with 20 touchdowns and 11th with a QBR of 78.3. He’s completed 68.3 percent of his attempts and posted a quarterback rating of 157.9 this year.

But he’s also getting it done with his legs.

Howell has rushed for 870 yards and 14 touchdowns, adding that dynamic to his game a little more this season and it’s paid off. Yes, this hasn’t been the season that UNC fans had hoped for as they were the No. 10 team in the preseason rankings but Howell has been good still in what is likely his final year.

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