CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — Max Johnson’s injury in North Carolina’s first game of the season has left the Tar Heels quarterback’s room a bit thin.
Connor Harrell assumed the starting job when Johnson went down, but now he’s being challenged by Jacolby Criswell. But either way you slice it, Harrell or Criswell, North Carolina is lacking when it comes to experience at football’s most important position.
“We’re very, very inexperienced at quarterback and we’ve got to do a great job of coaching those two guys and build on what they do best,” head coach Mack Brown said.
Heading into Saturday’s game against North Carolina Central, Brown had a plan to play Criswell on the third offensive series of the game. That will now most likely be the plan going forward no matter who earns the starting nod. “The one who’s moving the ball and scoring stays in,” Brown said. “If you’re struggling, you change it up and you’ve got somebody to do that with.”
Brown would not commit on Monday who will start Saturday against James Madison. Both will get equal amounts of snaps in practice this week and let the best man win. But one thing is for sure: unlike when Sam Howell or Drake Maye were leading the Tar Heels, this year’s squad will now see a collective effort behind center.
“We can not say we’re going to have this guy play,” Brown said. “We need both of them to play. They’re very different and we’ve got to do is do a better job going forward of making sure we do what each of them do best.”
Just a few years ago, Criswell battled Maye toe to toe for the starting job. Now, after a year away at Arkansas, Criswell is back with his best chance ever to be the Tar Heels starting quarterback. “He has a legitimate chance to step up and help this football team for the first time,” Brown said.