CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –– The Tar Heels will travel to Minnesota to face the Golden Gophers on Thursday night.
This season-opening matchup will be a tone setter for the Tar Heels. Importantly, it will also be a first look into how the group is meshing together following some major upheavals in the offseason with the departure of Drake Maye and other key players to the 2024 NFL Draft, as well transfers and new coaches.
However, the team’s uncertainty at the quarterback position is a cause for concern as they head into the season.
During camp head coach Mack Brown highlighted that the team, “will not play two quarterbacks if someone begins to separate themselves as the best option, but will if we can’t tell by game time.”
However, last Friday he said that the season opener might feature both Conner Harrell and Max Johnson, “depending on how the game dictates.”
The decision from Brown seems to be a strategic decision or a sign of certain challenges. On one hand, it can help adapt to different in-game situations. Both Harrell and Johnson nurture a unique set of skills and beat out each other in some areas as it pertains to accuracy, mobility, and decision-making.
On the other hand, uncertainty around who’s starting might disrupt the team’s offensive consistency and rhythm. It also seems to indicate that neither Harrell or Johnson possesses the leadership qualities necessary to guide the team.
“We don’t know how either quarterback’s going to play,” Brown said. “So if one of them is in the game and not playing well, we’re going to play the other one, period. If it was Drake, we wouldn’t be sitting here saying this. But we just don’t know how they’re going to play…So we’re going to watch the game and try to put them in the best positions. And then if it’s not working for one, you go with another to try to
win the game.”
Brown continued on to say that both guys are good enough to win, but their respective expertise might be needed at different points in the competition.
The biggest difference is the experience Johnson has over Harrell. After spending his first two seasons at LSU and the latter half at Texas A&M, Johnson has amassed 5,852 yards and 47 touchdowns across his collegiate career. His best season was in 2021 as a freshman with the Tigers where he delivered 27 touchdowns, throwing for 2,814 yards.
Harrell has backed up Maye the last few years and has only started one game, which was the Tar Heels’ loss to West Virginia in the Duke Mayo Bowl where he finished with one touchdown and two interceptions. He’s a 67 percent passer in his career at North Carolina, but that’s just on 33 total attempts. In the few glimpses
seen of Harrell’s production he seems to have high football IQ and can run the ball, but still needs to polish up his precision.
While the dual quarterback play might be an interesting strategy, it remains to be seen if it’s the most effective for the team’s success. The Tar Heels need to confirm a reliable signal-caller before facing tougher opponents like FSU and N.C. State down the road.
It’s unclear who will start on Thursday night, but the team’s performance will depend heavily on who they believe is their best chance of earning their first win of the season.
