CHAPEL HILL – University of North Carolina QB Drake Maye has been named a finalist for the Manning Award. The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, is the only quarterback award that takes the candidates’ bowl performances into consideration in its balloting. The winner will be announced after the bowls in January. The award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning.
In his first season as a starter, Maye has completed 298-of-440 passes (67.7%) for 3,847 yards and 35 TDs. The 3,847 yards rank second in the Power 5 and are already UNC’s single-season record, while the 35 TDs are tied for second in the Power 5. Maye also leads the team in rushing with 629 yards and six TDs. His 373 yards per game of total offense lead the nation and his 41 TDs responsible for rank third amongst Power 5 players.
Maye threw for 280 or more yards and two or more TDs in the first 10 games of the 2022 season. Since 2004, no other ACC QB has done that in any 8-game stretch, much less 10, and no true or redshirt freshman has done it at any FBS school. Only two QBs (playoff era) had longer streaks, Bailey Zappe (W. Kentucky) 14 in 2021 and Baker Mayfield (Okla.) 12 from 2016-17.
The Huntersville, N.C. native is just the ninth QB since 2010 to post 3,500 pass yards, 35 pass TDs, 500 rush yards, and 5 rush TDs in a season. The others are Robert Griffin III, Tajh Boyd, Johnny Manziel, Marcus Mariota, Deshaun Watson (2x), McKenzie Milton, Kyler Murray and Trevor Lawrence.
In the past 15 years, Maye is the only QB to have three-straight games with 3 TDs, 0 INT, 70% completions, 250 passing yards and 50 rushing yards. The only QBs to do it in back-to-back games are Bo Nix, Jalen Hurts, JT Barrett, Marcus Mariota, Robert Griffin III and Joe Webb.
Maye is currently averaging 320.6 passing yards per game and leads UNC in rushing with 629 yards (52.4 ypg). The last two QBs who averaged over 300 passing yards per game, while leading their team in rushing were Patrick Mahomes in 2016 and Johnny Manziel in 2013.
Maye is currently the highest graded quarterback in the Power 5 according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) with a 91.6 mark. According to PFF, his 40 big-time throws are 11 more than any other Power 5 quarterback, while his 498 rushing…
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