What a difference a year makes.
This time last year, North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell was a highly touted early enrollee vying for the starting quarterback spot. Many even considered Howell the third guy, behind redshirt freshmen Jace Ruder and Cade Fortin, heading into the spring game.
Fast forward 365 days and Howell and is coming off a campaign for the Tar Heels that landed him on the freshman All-America team. The Indian Trail, NC, native threw for 3,641 yards, 38 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, earning him a third-team All-ACC selection as well as the ACC Offensive and overall Rookie of the Year.
Howell was elite and was one of only two major college quarterbacks to pass for 3,000-plus yards, 35-plus touchdowns and throw seven or fewer interceptions in 2019. The other was Heisman Trophy winner and national champion LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, whom Howell has been studying since UNC’s 55-13 Military Bowl win over Temple last December.
“Right when our season ended, the first thing I did was make sure I was sent all the LSU games from last season just because Joe Burrow did a really, really good job and he was just so efficient,” Howell said during a virtual press conference on April 8. “I’ve probably watched every single one of his games probably three times since the season’s been over.”
According to PFF, Howell ranked third in deep passing yards last season, throwing for 1,339 and second in deep touchdowns with 21, sitting just behind a fifth-year senior in Burrow in both categories.
Howell placed higher than Burrow in fourth-quarter efficiency, as he was highest graded quarterback in the country in the final 15 minutes of play with a rating of 92.8.
While Howell was impressive for the entire season, it was in the final three games where he and the UNC offense really began to turn it on. In wins over Mercer, N.C. State and Temple, the Heels racked up 1,691 yards and outscored their opponents, 152-30.
Howell was responsible for 847 of those yards, completing 58 of his 80 passes and throwing for nine touchdowns and just one interception. Even more impressive when you consider Howell played in just two quarters of the blowout win over Mercer.
UNC Coach Mack Brown, offensive coordinator Phil Longo and a countless number of his teammates have said Howell is one of the hardest working players on the team. He spends hours in the film room studying opposing defenses’ in the days leading up to games, so it’s really no surprise Howell has switched his attention on a future No. 1 NFL Draft pick in Burrow this off-season.
Howell’s constantly looking to improve and believes there’s a few specific aspects of Burrow’s game he can personally implement.
“He just does a really good job of delivering the football to his guys in a very efficient way,” Howell said. “The main thing with him is he doesn’t make mistakes, he’s not going to put his team in a bad position, he doesn’t turn the ball over really.”
Longo has few complaints from Howell’s inaugural season. There are still aspects of his game Longo wants Howell to improve, however, both of which they’ve identified.
“I don’t know that there are any major concerns with Sam but, playing quarterback, you can always get better at every aspect of play and that’s what we’re doing right now,” Longo said during a virtual press conference on April 6. “We’re trying to address the biggest weaknesses, take the weak link and move it forward and then what happens is your overall package just gets stronger.”
From simply vying for the starting job to becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the country as a rookie, it’s been quite a year for Howell. He’s far from satisfied, though, and is hoping the lessons he learns from Burrow’s game can help take his to the next level in 2020.
