North Carolina head coach Mack Brown, quarterbacks Connor Harrell, Max Johnson, running back Omarion Hampton, linebacker Power Echols, and EDGE Kaimon Rucker are in Charlotte, representing the Tar Heels at ACC Media Days.
Brown’s second stint at UNC (2019-present) has seen the Tar Heels achieve a winning record in four of the last five seasons, with Brown finishing above .500 in 12 of the last 13 seasons at the helm for North Carolina dating back to his first stint (1988-1997).
As he gears up for another attempt to add to that streak, what are three of biggest questions Brown will face at ACC Media Days?
3 Most Significant Questions for Mack Brown at ACC Media Days
1) Who Will Replace Drake Maye?
Former North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye was selected third overall by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft after throwing for 8,108 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in three years with the Tar Heels.
Suffice to say, replacing a quarterback the caliber of Maye is as daunting a task as it gets in college football. A clearcut replacement at quarterback hasn’t been announced by Brown as a competition ensues between Max Johnson, Conner Harrell, and Jacolby Criswell, with Johnson and Harrell joining Brown for ACC Media Days.
Johnson is a two-time transfer, starting his career at LSU (2020-2021) followed by a stop at Texas A&M (2022-2023) before joining UNC this offseason. With 22 starts between his two previous stops, Johnson has 5,853 yards, 47 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He is the son of former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Brad Johnson.
As a redshirt freshman last year, Harrell made his first career start in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl last year, completing 18-27 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the 30-10 loss to West Virginia. In five appearances in 2023, he completed 22-30 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another 75 yards and a score.
Criswell started his career at North Carolina with Brown (2020-2022) before transferring to Arkansas for one season last year after losing the starting job to Maye. Now, he’s back with the Tar Heels fighting once again for UNC’s starting spot, this time sans Maye.
2) How Has New DC Geoff Collins Improved the Defense?
North Carolina finished 12th in the ACC in total defense (404.4 yards allowed per game) and 10th in scoring defense (27.3 points allowed per game) in 2023. Brown decided to make a change on that side of the ball, replacing Gene Chizik with former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins at defensive coordinator.
After Collins went 10-28 at the helm for Georgia Tech (2019-2022), he decided to go back to his roots on the defensive side of the ball. As the DC at Mississippi State (2013-2014) and Florida (2015-2016), he guided defenses that finished in the top-5 in the SEC for total defense at both programs.
3) Is the Future of the ACC Concerning?
Nobody is safe from realignment, not even the power conferences as the Pac-12 learned last year. Two of the ACC’s biggest members – Florida State and Clemson – are making a lot of noise and could potentially leave the conference if they have their way.
If FSU and Clemson leave, it could create a mass exodus, and the ACC could fall to the wayside like the Pac-12. The Tar Heels will need a contingency plan if that happens, which is something Brown (282-149-1) may or may not be preparing for after 35 seasons as a collegiate head coach (App State, 1983, Tulane, 1985-1987, UNC, 1988-1997, 2019-present, Texas 1998-2013).
ACC Media Days Schedule: Mack Brown, UNC Head Coach
- Date: Thursday, July 25
- Time: 9 am – 4 pm ET
- How to watch: ESPN 2/ACC Network
There will likely to be a significant drop-off at the quarterback position no matter who takes over for Maye. Fortunately for Brown, he has a room full of talent to choose from between Johnson, Harrell, and Criswell.
Fixing a hemorrhaging defense while preparing for a potentially shaky future for the conference might prove to be too much for the aging coach as he weighs his retirement options.
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