UNC freshman quarterback Sam Howell wins ACC Rookie of the Year honors
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell has won the ACC’s Offensive Rookie and overall Rookie of the Year awards, the ACC announced on Wednesday.
The announcement came as no surprise. Howell leads the ACC in passing yards (3,347) and touchdowns (35) this season. His 35 passing touchdowns is an ACC and FBS single-season record for a true freshman. Of the seven ACC quarterbacks with at least 300 passing attempts, he has thrown the second-least interceptions with seven.
Howell received 49 of the possible 60 votes for ACC Rookie of the Year. He received 54 of the possible 60 votes for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Howell was also a third-team All-ACC selection.
“I really had some good players around me,” Howell told the N&O in a phone interview Wednesday. “Definitely the people I have around me make my job really easy.”
Those who know Howell describe him as even-keeled. He doesn’t get down on himself when bad things happen and he doesn’t get too excited when good things happen. His demeanor is calm.
But Howell said he was “really excited” to win the award.
“I still probably stayed pretty calm, but I definitely was excited,” Howell said. It’s not something a lot of people can say they accomplished.”
Howell did not receive any votes for ACC Player of the Year or ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Clemson’s Travis Etienne won both.
Top priority
Howell came to UNC in January as an early enrollee. He initially committed to Florida State, but re-opened his recruitment after FSU offensive coordinator Walt Bell took a head coaching job at UMass.
UNC coach Mack Brown said signing Howell was the No. 1 priority when he accepted the position as the Tar Heels’ head coach in November 2018.
Howell announced he was signing with the Tar Heels during the early signing period in December 2018. He won the starting job during fall camp and has performed well since.
“I’ve never had a quarterback that has that talent like that, and is that young and knows as much as he knows,” UNC junior wide receiver Dazz Newsome said Saturday after UNC’s 41-10 win over N.C. State. “So he’s going to be real good.”
He has thrown at least two touchdowns in every game this season.
Freshman All-American?
Howell will also be in contention for the freshman All-American team. His top competition will likely be UCF’s Dillon Gabriel and Southern California’s Kedon Slovis.
Here is a comparison of their stats:
▪ Sam Howell: 3,347 passing yards, 60.3 completion percentage, 35 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 1 rushing touchdown.
▪ Dillon Gabriel: 3,393 passing yards, 59.4 completion percentage, 27 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 3 rushing touchdowns.
▪ Kedon Slovis: 3,242 passing yards, 71.8 completion percentage, 28 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions
In other news
UNC linebacker Chazz Surratt, who was voted first-team All-ACC, received the second most votes for the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year award. He received four of the possible 60 votes.
Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons was the overwhelming winner, though. He received 42 votes.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 11:39 AM with the headline "UNC freshman quarterback Sam Howell wins ACC Rookie of the Year honors."
