North Carolina quarterback and 2022 ACC Player of the Year Drake Maye is a wanted man.
According to Jeff Ermann of Inside MD Sports, three “major bluebloods” reached out to Maye, attempting to pry him from UNC, floating NIL offers in the ballpark of $4 million. However, Maye has not entered the transfer portal.
Maye has family ties to the North Carolina program. His father played football at the school. Also, his brother Luke won a national championship with the basketball team.
If there is any doubt to the report, Pittsburgh head football coach Pat Narduzzi stated on 93.7 the Fan Tuesday that he was aware that at least two schools offered Maye $5 million to transfer.
Narduzzi ripped the current state of the NCAA’s transfer portal. The NCAA prohibits schools from contacting a player that has not entered the transfer portal. However, amid the name, image, and likeness era, it’s difficult for the NCAA to monitor violations.
Recently, North Carolina head coach Mack Brown acknowledged schools were tampering with Maye.
“I can’t say that [who they are], and don’t ask Drake,” Brown told reporters. “You know who they are. Just look at all the ones who are getting all the top recruits.”
As a redshirt freshman, Maye took over the starting quarterback position for the Tar Heels after Sam Howell left last spring for the NFL.
Drake Maye threw for 4,115 yards and 35 touchdowns against seven interceptions while completing 67.2% of his passes in 13 games this season. He led the Tar Hells to a 9-4 record, an ACC Coastal division title, and a trip to the ACC Championship Game.
Maye is an early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in 2023. He is also rising on the draft boards for 2024 as a candidate to be the first overall pick.
Turning down as much as $5 million is insane, especially in today’s college sports atmosphere. However, Maye is in line for a great deal of money if he continues to trend in the right direction next season. And it appears he will attempt to do so in Carolina Blue.
