DETROIT — The New England Patriots selected former University of North Carolina (UNC) QB Drake Maye with the third pick in the NFL draft on Thursday.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, Maye completed over 63 percent of his passes for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns with only nine interceptions. He also ran for 449 yards and nine more scores and ended the season with a quarterback rating of 149.00. Maye was a finalist for the Manning Award in 2023 after being the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year in '22.
“This is a dream come true and something I’ve been working towards for a long time,” said Maye. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my family and friends, who have been with me through all the good times and bad. I’m very lucky to have the support system I do, and I can’t thank all the coaches, teammates, staffers, and everyone else involved enough. I’m thrilled to be part of the Patriots organization, and I truly appreciate them trusting me to lead the franchise into the future. I got to live out a dream playing at North Carolina, and now I get to do it in the NFL with New England. I can’t wait to get started and get back to playing ball.”
Maye is not the only Tar Heel who could be picked this weekend.
Devontez Walker is among the ACC's top wide receiver prospects. Appearing in just eight games after winning his eligibility from the NCAA, Walker still caught 41 passes for 699 yards and seven touchdowns to earn third-team All-ACC accolades.
Linebacker Cedric Gray was a first-team All-ACC pick and a semifinalist for the Butkus Award after leading UNC and finishing second in the ACC with 121 tackles in 2023. In his career, Gray was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection and a second-team All-America in 2022.
Defensive lineman Myles Murphy grabbed honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2023 after posting 24 tackles, a sack, 4.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery in 13 starts. In 52 career games, Murphy posted 99 tackles, seven sacks and 17 TFL.
Running back British Brooks appeared in 12 games and rushed for 375 yards with two touchdowns in 2023. He was named the ACC running back of the week in early September after rushing 15 times for 103 yards with three catches for 18 more yards in the season opener against South Carolina. In total, Brooks appeared in 52 games as a Tar Heel and rushed for 836 yards and seven TDs. He was a special teams standout, earning the team's Special Teams MVP twice.
“It’s been an absolute joy to coach Drake Maye and we couldn’t be more excited to see him drafted in the first round by the Patriots,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown. “I’ve been lucky enough to watch Drake grow up in the Carolina family and we’re so proud of how he’s represented both his family and the Tar Heels. As a player, he’s smart, accurate, dedicated and loves the game. He’s a great teammate and someone people gravitate towards. He’s got the ‘it’ factor and I think New England very lucky to have him.”