In a quarterback class that has plenty of potential but no clear star, Sam Howell of North Carolina might be someone worth monitoring closely. After three years in college, Howell left early to take his shot at the NFL. But is he ready to earn a starting spot in the NFL and where does he stand compared to the rest of the quarterbacks in the 2022 Draft?
College Career
After being a top recruit in high school, Howell flipped his college choice late in the process, spurning Florida State and signing with North Carolina, his home state school, instead. It turned out to be a good choice, as Howell won the starting job as a true freshman, helping the Tar Heels get things turned around, going 7-6 in 2019 while winning ACC Rookie of the Year honors.
Howell threw for over 3,600 yards and 38 touchdowns as a freshman with just seven interceptions. He posted similar numbers the following year, throwing for 3,586 yards and averaging over 10 yards per pass. He also threw 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading UNC to the Orange Bowl.
Things were a little different for Howell in 2021, as the Tar Heels lost most of their top offensive playmakers from the previous year. With a younger supporting cast, Howell started to rely a lot more on his legs, rushing for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns compared to just 181 yards and six touchdowns rushing combined in his first two seasons.
His completion percentage also took a dip compared to his sophomore season, although Howell still finished with over 3,000 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions despite North Carolina finishing the year 6-7.
Pros
As a passer, Howell shows great anticipation and a quick release in addition to having the arm strength to make all of the throws NFL quarterbacks are expected to make. He understands where the ball needs to go and can get it there, which is why his interception numbers were consistently low throughout his college career.
Howell can also throw from multiple arm angles without sacrificing any accuracy. As mentioned, he became much more of a running threat during the 2021 season, forcing NFL teams to look at him a little differently. He’s always been athletic enough to move around the pocket but now he’s a bonafide threat to make plays with his legs and showed great toughness in the process.
Cons
Even with three years of starting experience in college under his belt, Howell still has room for improvement. He still doesn’t go through all of his progressions, often locking in on one receiver and forcing the ball or putting the ball away and running.
During the 2021 season, there were also times when he was too quick to run rather than simply buying time in the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield. At 6’1’’, he’s also a little undersized for an NFL quarterback, especially since he’s a good but not an elite runner.
Projection
A subpar campaign in 2021 with a diminished supporting cast likely ended any guarantee that Howell will be a first-round pick. He didn’t have a bad year, but it wasn’t his best, allowing NFL teams to pick apart some of his flaws. However, Howell surely has the arm talent, intelligence, and moxie to be an NFL quarterback.
There are some issues to iron out that could push Howell to Day 2. But that shouldn’t preclude him from being considered a quarterback with the talent to be a long-term starter in the NFL.