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UNC Football: Maye named to Golden Arm Watch List

By Sean Ebersbach

Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up before the 2022 Holiday Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up before the 2022 Holiday Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Drake Maye, the star quarterback of the UNC Football program has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list.

The UNC Football quarterback adds to his preseason watch list appearances for the 2023 season with the Golden Arm Award in Johnny Unitas’ honor.

The 2023 watch list consists of 48 of the nation’s top quarterbacks ahead of the season.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award has been presented annually since 1987 to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback projected to graduate with their class. Last year’s recipient was TCU’s quarterback Max Duggan and other notable winners include Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, and Peyton Manning, among many more notable collegiate quarterbacks.

It seems like every day Maye is being named to a different watch list or preseason award, but they have all come deservingly. He recorded 4,321 passing yards (fourth in the NCAA), 38 passing touchdowns (fifth in the NCAA), 385.5 yards worth of total offense (second in the NCAA), and an 82.4 QBR (tenth in the NCAA). He did all of this during his first season in which he made his first collegiate start.

After just one season, Maye ranks 9th all-time for career passing yards in UNC football history. His 4,321 passing yards broke Mitch Trubisky’s single-season passing yard record of 3,748 set in 2016.

As far as passing touchdowns, Maye ranks seventh with 39 passing touchdowns through his one season. Howell and Maye are tied for first in passing touchdowns in a single season with 38, the 2019 season for Howell and the 2022 season for Maye.

The North Carolina single-game passing touchdown record is also held by Sam Howell who came against Wake Forest where he recorded 6. Maye recorded three five-passing touchdown games against Florida A&M, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh but fell short of the record. He’ll have a chance to tie (or even break it) this upcoming season.

dark. Next. Six Tar Heels Named to Senior Bowl Watch List

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