4. Sam Howell, North Carolina

Howell inherited a program that hadn’t featured a stable quarterback since Mitchell Trubisky’s one successful season in 2016. After the Tar Heels went 5-18 over the past two years, Howell led the team to a 7-6 record in 2019. He became the first true freshman to start a season-opening game for the Tar Heels this past season.

North Carolina could become a threatening team in the ACC. Last year, the Tar Heels took the Clemson Tigers to the wire in a 20-21 defeat. Trevor Lawrence’s team barely escaped with the victory when Howell failed to convert a two-point play with under a minute and a half left in the fourth quarter.

The true freshman completed 61.4% of his pass attempts for 3,641 yards, 38 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Howell finished second in the ACC in passing yards and first in passing yards. His 38 passing touchdowns also set a single-season school record, shattering Trubisky’s previous mark of 30.

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown recently told The Jim Rome Show that he has high hopes for his sophomore quarterback.

I think [Howell] can be as good as anybody. He’s got a real calmness about him. It’s a calmness and a confidence. So he is a great leader without saying a whole lot. He’s the hardest worker on the team.

Howell doesn’t possess the same mobility as some of the other top quarterbacks in college football, but he’s already one of the best passers in the nation.