Possible No. 1 pick Maye to avoid bowl, enter draft

• Pete Thamel, ESPNDec 11, 2023, 05:56 PM ET

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, among the top NFL potential customers in college football, informed ESPN on Monday that he’s passing up the rest of his eligibility at UNC to state for the NFL draft.Maye, a redshirt sophomore, started all 26 games of his career throughout the past 2 seasons at UNC. He informed ESPN that he will not play in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against West Virginia. He’ll leave school with a 17-9 record as a starter.”Just taking a seat with my family and the people I rely on the most in life, including my coaches,” Maye said.” This is the very best decision for me and my future. It was my lifelong dream to play quarterback at North Carolina, and I get a possibility to check off another dream and play quarterback in the NFL.”Maye is a contender to be the No. 1 total choice in the draft, and his decision to declare sets the stage for a possible monthslong dispute for that area. USC quarterback Caleb Williams has actually not stated his intents for 2024 but has actually also explained he’s not playing in the postseason.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Over his North Carolina career, Maye threw for 8,018

yards, ranking him 5th on UNC’s all-time passing list. He ranks 4th on UNC’s career goal list with 63. Maye led UNC to the ACC national championship in 2022, as the Tar Heels started the season 9-1 and ascended to as high as No. 13

in the rankings. This season, UNC started the year 6-0 and climbed up as high as No. 10. A few of the sport’s greatest powers revealed interest in Maye after the 2022 season, however he stated he never ever fluctuated on his dedication to UNC and has no remorses.”This is the location I constantly wished to play quarterback, “Maye informed ESPN. “Thinking back over my time in college, I couldn’t think of playing anywhere else. Last spring, when you heard reports flying after the season about me moving elsewhere, it would not have sat right with me and my family and the tradition I’m attempting to leave at Carolina. I wanted to play here at North Carolina, and I wouldn’t alter a thing.”Maye stated he took an approach final Monday afternoon, and he’s slowly getting ready for the next phase of his career– preparing for the draft. He prepares to show groups what type of player,

rival and individual they ‘d be getting. “First of all, carrying on from college and getting back into exercise mode and actually just finding out the steps of preparing the NFL draft,” Maye stated of the upcoming weeks.” Not just physically but mentally

. Playing quarterback in the NFL is a mental game. I want to show the NFL not just my competitive edge, but that I’m a winner and a leader and I’m all set to handle a franchise. “The drumbeat of argument between Maye and Williams began long previously this college season and could wind up reaching draft night. As of now, the Chicago Bears have the leading pick via a trade with the Carolina Panthers, who have

the league’s worst record. The New England Patriots are slotted No. 2 at 3-10 and have an easier strength of schedule than the Arizona Cardinals, who are also 3-10. Maye said he’s aware of the perceived competitors between him and Williams and is embracing it. “We’ve never ever battled with our groups on the field, “Maye stated.” The media has put a fight between our playing. He’s a great player and a good friend of mine, however I’m attempting to prove that I can be the best quarterback in this draft.” There’s no consensus yet among NFL

groups on who will go No. 1, as whether Chicago trades or holds the pick will be among the dominant storylines of the upcoming weeks. One NFL executive told ESPN that the last determination might boil down to scheme fit.” It’s going to boil down to what team has the No. 1 pick and the style of offense that they play, “the executive said. “Honestly, it depends upon the offending coordinator and the scheme they are running. They are going to choose fit and feel.”Maye is 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds and fits the archetype of the classic NFL quarterback.

“In most drafts, he ‘d go No. 1, “the executive stated. “His ability advises me of Eli Manning coming out of college. He’s a pure, smooth pocket passer who has a terrific release. He’ll fit in an offense based on timing and three-step

and five-step drops and throwing the ball to spots, a franchise where ball placement and timing is put at a premium.” For Maye, the choice to leave UNC resonates more than many. He grew up imagining betting Carolina, similar to his father, Mark, a previous UNC quarterback, and his older sibling, Luke, who starred on UNC’s basketball group. Maye has actually lived at UNC with his sibling Beau, who is on the Tar Heels ‘hoops team. His mother, Aimee, also went to UNC.Maye kept in mind Monday that he flipped his dedication from Alabama to UNC, an indicator of how terribly he wanted to play there. He pointed out his gratitude for coach Mack Brown numerous times and stated he likewise wished to thank both his family and the UNC fan base for their assistance.”The fans suggest a lot to me and what they’ve done and the support they’ve provided me and my household, it goes

a long way, “Maye stated.” Individuals make the location. Simply individuals are special in Chapel Hill. It’s the best college town I believe there is. Simply seeing that Carolina blue every day, it is among the very best color pattern in the land. “