With QBs in spotlight, UNC football begins fall camp with emphasis on position battles

North Carolina held its first day of football practice on Friday, a week earlier than most programs because of its Aug. 27 opener against Florida A&M. Head coach Mack Brown indicated that this season’s fall camp will differ from his previous three since he returned to Chapel Hill in 2019.

The Tar Heels won’t be as conservative with their personnel this season after a disappointing 6-7 record last season. There was a tendency to bring players along slowly. On the offensive line, for example, Brown said certain players were limited to the red zone, but did not play much between the 20-yard lines.

That will change this year. The players who can help win games will be in the game. Period. Doesn’t matter if they are young and inexperienced, if they’ve proven themselves in practice, they’ll get the chance to learn in real time during games.

“This isn’t about country club, this isn’t about hanging out together, this isn’t all about buddies,” Brown said. “This is about discipline. This is about toughness. And this is about who gives us the best chance to win the most games.”

Quarterbacks Jacolby Criswell and Drake Maye are the focal point of that question. The competition in the spring to replace three-year starter Sam Howell, who is now at training camp with the Washington Commanders in the NFL, did not end with a winner or even a real front-runner.

Carolina probably won’t string its battle out until the opener. Because Criswell and Maye have similar skill sets and the offense won’t change much with either under center, Brown said he didn’t see a real advantage to keeping FAMU guessing over who it will face.

Brown said there’s a chance offensive coordinator Phil Longo could feel differently and they would keep the starter a secret. But more than likely, they will name someone about 10 days before the opener like they did when Howell was named the starter his freshman year.

“I thought (Howell) didn’t need to be sitting there (tense) and nobody knowing he was a starter, I thought he needed to get that pressure out of the way,” Brown said. “... So what we’ll probably do is look at a similar time table (for Criswell and Maye.) I’ve never been one of those guys that says, ‘Let’s hold it till the game.’ ”

In the meantime, the Heels aren’t holding anything back to prepare them for game action. Both quarterbacks are in a better position than Howell was when he took over. Criswell is a third-year sophomore, and Maye is a redshirt freshman.

Criswell started last season against Wofford when Howell was injured, completing 11 of 19 passes for 125 yards. He rushed for another 66 yards and a score. Maye also played that game, going 7-for-9 passing for 89 yards and touchdown. He rushed for 38 yards.

“We’re not worried about their competence, we’re worried about them separating so we’re bringing it all,” Brown said. “We’re disguising. We’re blitzing. And we’re putting them in game-type positions to see how they handle it.”

Criswell and Maye are splitting time taking snaps with the first team in practice, so they also split time with the backups, too. They both had some standout moments running 7-on-7 drills on Friday. Brown said it will be easier to determine who is moving the ball when the team begins practicing in full pads.

Quarterback isn’t the only position where competition abounds. Brown said the Heels were trying to use three running backs after largely settling on a two-man rotation the past three seasons.

“We’re telling the guys, the one who practices the best is going to play,” Brown said. “The bench is our friend and we’re not trying to get a depth chart to please you. We’re trying to get a depth chart to win games.”