During an interview with 97.9 WCHL in Chapel Hill on Monday morning, North Carolina head coach Mack Brown named Sam Howell the team’s starting quarterback. The news arrives a week after the true freshman was named the team’s first-team quarterback. UNC released its official depth chart on Monday morning, too.
Howell, a 4-star recruit, beat out Jace Ruder and Cade Fortin — two redshirt freshmen — for the job. Appearing in three games, Fortin completed 32-of-64 passes for 388 yards last season. Ruder attempted just five passes all season.
Mack Brown says on 97.9 The Hill WCHL this morning that Sam Howell is the starter. Jace Ruder will be No. 2 and the staff is trying to figure out who will be third string. As reported last week, Cade Fortin will transfer. He wants to try to start elsewhere.
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) August 26, 2019
Back on Friday, less than a week after Howell’s elevation to the first team, Fortin entered the transfer portal. As of right now, UNC has only two scholarship quarterbacks on its roster.
North Carolina takes on South Carolina this Saturday (Aug. 31); kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. The Tar Heels are an 8-point underdog.
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