UNC's all-time passing yards, TD leader named Top 25 true freshman since 2000
It's extremely difficult to be a freshman in any sport, regardless of whether you're playing college football or high school basketball.
One freshman who had no issue stepping into the spotlight is Sam Howell, who left UNC as its all-time leader in career passing yards and touchdowns. Howell started all 13 games during his 2019 freshman season at North Carolina, which ended in a 55-13 thumping of Temple in the Military Bowl. With 3,641 passing yards and 38 touchdowns, it came as no surprise when Howell won ACC Rookie of the Year honors.
Not only was Howell's true freshman season the best-ever amongst Tar Heel quarterbacks, but one of the best since 2000. In CBS Sports' "Top 25 True Freshman of the Century" rankings, Howell slotted in at 19th.
"Howell helped begin Mack Brown's second stint in Chapel Hill with a bang," Chris Hummer wrote. "He threw for 3,641 yards and an ACC-best 38 touchdowns against just seven interceptions, helping the Tar Heels improve by five wins compared to a 2-9 effort during the 2018 campaign under Larry Fedora. The only true freshman quarterback with a better statistical debut than Howell is the No. 1 player on this list."
Howell played sparingly during his 2022 rookie NFL season, then took over as the Washington Commanders' starter in 2023. Howell backed up Geno Smith on the Seattle Seahawks in 2024 – and will now do the same to J.J. McCarthy on the Minnesota Vikings.
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