UNC QB Jacolby Criswell breaks down what he brings to the table as a quarterback
Jacolby Criswell wants to lead the North Carolina Tar Heels into battle as their starting quarterback in 2022.
However, there’s some hoops Criswell still needs to jump through, including a heated competition with redshirt freshman Drake Maye for the starting job. Both were waiting in the wings as Sam Howell‘s backups and have little in-game experience, but Criswell has no shortage of confidence.
Speaking with the media, Criswell spoke about what he believes he brings to the table as North Carolina’s potential starting quarterback.
“Any throw there is, I can make regardless,” began Criswell. “It doesn’t matter if it’s on-platform, off-platform — I’ll be able to do it. I trust my abilities. I don’t question my abilities. I’ve been doing this since I was eight years old. I feel like I’m prepared to make any throw.
“So, I would say that, and as well using my feet. This summer, I’ve been working on making sure my — my hamstring was an issue earlier in the spring — making sure that’s fully healthy. If the road does come to me, making sure I’m not able to not only use my arm, but use my feet, as well.”
Moreover, Criswell had 21 pass attempts completing 13 of them for 179 yards and a touchdown last season. On the other hand, Maye had ten pass attempts completing seven of them for 189 yards and a touchdown.
Criswell is a former four-star prospect out of Arkansas. He signed with UNC in the 2020 class as the No. 263 recruit in the nation, per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Time will tell who takes the starting job for the Tar Heels, but Jacolby Criswell is firmly planting his flag in the ground in an attempt to be named the leader of the team.
More on Jacolby Criswell, UNC QB competition
As of now, North Carolina head coach Mack Brown has yet to name a starter but the competition will get real in a few weeks during fall camp.
Neither player stood out over the other in UNC’s spring game in April. Maye finished 9-of-12 passing for 113 yards and two touchdowns while Criswell went a perfect 6-of-6 passing for 104 yards and a touchdown. Brown said he liked what he saw from both.
“They’re a lot alike,” the coach said in a press conference following the spring game. “If you look at them every day, people say, ‘Ah, they’re just saying that to keep ’em both here.’ We’re not. They’re a lot alike. Both of them have quick arms and can throw the ball deep. They’re both accurate. They both can run.
“Jacolby’s got more experience because people forget he’s been here two years now and had a lot more reps. But the biggest thing is, who’s gonna throw to the right guy? Who’s gonna be the most accurate? And the other thing is who’s getting the ball out of their hands?”