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UNC quarterback named to Comeback Player of the Year Watch List
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- UNC quarterback named to Comeback Player of the Year Watch List
When Drake Maye declared for the 2024 NFL Draft , UNC found itself in desperate need of a starting quarterback for its 2024 season.
North Carolina returned Conner Harrell and landed Jacolby Criswell from the transfer portal, but the most logical choice seemed longtime SEC QB Max Johnson . After an intense offseason battle, Johnson won the job – and led his new Tar Heel teammates into the 2024 opener at Minnesota – but left that battle early due to injury.
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On Tuesday, Johnson earned himself a significant preseason honor: a spot on the Comeback Player of the Year Watch List.
UNC barely escaped the Golden Gophers in Week 1 last season, thanks to a missed Dragan Kesich field goal as time expired, but lost Max Johnson to a broken leg during the second half. Now fully-recovered from that same broken leg, Johnson finds himself competing for North Carolina's starting QB job again – this time, with South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez .
Johnson looked solid during the Tar Heels' first day of Training Camp back on August 2, rolling out of the pocket comfortably and finding his receivers in stride. Johnson also backed up deeper into the pocket – and moved laterally – with ease.
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Johnson might have four seasons of SEC experience under his belt, playing two years at LSU and Texas A&M apiece, but Lopez started every game last season. Lopez threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns, added 465 rushing yards and seven more touchdowns, while leading South Alabama to its third-consecutive winning record and second-straight bowl victory.
Does Bill Belichick start Johnson or Lopez for the Week 1 opener against TCU ? Do both Johnson and Lopez play, similar to what Mack Brown did last season, with Criswell and Harrell?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC quarterback Max Johnson nominated for Comeback Player of the Year
