UNC’s Drake Maye drafted by New England Patriots. Reaction from North Carolina, beyond

Alex Zietlow

Drake Maye has been drafted by the New England Patriots — and his home state of North Carolina is thrilled.

The Charlotte-area native and UNC quarterback, who was selected with the third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, will be the first quarterback of the post-Bill Belichick Patriots.

The Myers Park High School alum and once-Heisman Trophy candidate finished his final season as a Tar Heel with 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions with 149 QB rating.

Here’s how people reacted to Maye’s selection.

UNC head coach Mack Brown: ‘So proud and happy’

Mack Brown, the UNC football head coach who recruited Maye from Alabama and groomed him to become the next great Tar Heel quarterback, tweeted his congratulations on Thursday night.

“So proud and happy for Drake and the Mayes,” Brown wrote. “First class family and Tar Heels through and through. Can’t wait to watch you on Sundays!”

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye (10) watches a replay of his interception by Clemson’s Nate Wiggins with 2:36 to play in the game to secure a 31-20 victory by the Tigers on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C Robert Willett/rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye (10) watches a replay of his interception by Clemson’s Nate Wiggins with 2:36 to play in the game to secure a 31-20 victory by the Tigers on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C Robert Willett/rwillett@newsobserver.com

North Carolina Tar Heel nation loves where Maye lands

Charlotte, Myers Park excited for hometown kid

The Maye family getting some love, too

Maye is the youngest son of Mark and Aimee, who are both Charlotte-area athletic legends. Mark is an Independence High School alum and was once one of the most well-known quarterback prospects to come out of North Carolina — and Aimee was a West Charlotte High School basketball star who chose not to play college basketball but certainly could’ve.

Drake’s brothers are quite special, too. The eldest is Luke, the Tar Heels basketball forward who hit the legendary game-winning shot against Kentucky that sent UNC into the Final Four and onto 2017 national championship glory. Cole, the second-oldest, was a national champion pitcher at Florida. Beau was a high school standout as well and a walk-on to UNC’s basketball team.

New England seems sold on Drake Maye, too

Even Bill Belichick weighed in — and was positive

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