Photo Contributed by Drake Maye
Drake Maye has the chance to make history. The star quarterback of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, and before that, our very own Myers Park Mustangs, is one of the hottest NFL draft prospects this year. His incredible stats in both high school and college have proved him to be one of the most capable quarterbacks in the nation, and expectations are high as Maye prepares to take on the biggest stage in football.
In high school at Myers Park, Drake Maye was a phenom, throwing for a combined 6713 yards and 86 touchdowns. Off the football field, he also played basketball, averaging a double-double in his junior year. His continued success led him to garner national attention from football powerhouses across the country, and he was named MaxPreps North Carolina football player of the year. Originally committing to SEC powerhouse Alabama, Maye ended up flipping his commitment to North Carolina, following older brothers Beau and Luke Maye, who both played basketball for the Tar Heels.
Redshirting his first year at UNC, Maye saw little of the field. He got his first action when starting quarterback Sam Howell was injured and was not able to play against Wofford. Maye shared the responsibilities with Jacolby Criswell, the other backup quarterback. Maye completed seven-for-nine pass attempts, which led him to 89 yards and his first collegiate touchdown.
At the start of the 2022 season, Maye and Criswell battled for the starting spot leading up to the season opener against Florida A&M. After winning the starting spot, Maye wasted no time in making a name for himself as a Tar Heel. His 4,321 passing yards over the course of the season broke the school single season record for passing yards, and also threw an impressive 38 passing touchdowns. He ended the season in 10th place for the 2022 Heisman Trophy voting. He was named the ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, and was First-team All-ACC. Heading into his final season at UNC, Maye was named Preseason ACC Player of the Year. Throughout the 2023 season, Maye yet again excelled, finishing with 3,608 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions on his way to being named to the Second-team All-ACC.
Following the season, Maye elected to sit out the 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl and declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, he is projected to be a top-10 pick and is one of the strongest quarterbacks this year. The first three teams in the draft – the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, and the Washington Commanders – are all possibly in the market for a QB. Experts around the league have added to the hype surrounding him, citing his athletic ability and arm strength.
Maye opted to not work out at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, but still made an impression on teams with his authentic self, where he talked about his experiences growing up with two older brothers and his journey to the NFL so far. “The biggest thing with three older brothers, they were always ahead of the curve. I had to catch up and put in the extra work to get toward them. I’m one of those personalities that once I find something that I need to improve on, I’m harping on it until I see the results that end up coming true and feeling like that work’s paid off. I’ve got that personality where if I find out I need to improve in an area, I’m going to grind that area and just be honest with myself. That’s the biggest thing,” Maye said in an interview.
Once the NFL Draft arrives, Drake Maye will be in a situation to thrive in the NFL. With the potential to become just the fourth NFL player to graduate from Myers Park, and the first since Omar Gaither. Gaither was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006. There are high expectations for the Carolina-bred quarterback.