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When the 2025 NFL season started, who'd you have in the Super Bowl? A rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs?
SaNow under two weeks out, the Super Bowl will feature the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Former UNC standout Drake Maye, in just his second NFL season, hopes to quarterback his Patriots teammates to their first Super Bowl title since 2019.
When Maye takes his first Super Bowl snap on February 8 in Santa Clara, he'll be doing so against Sam Darnold, a fellow former, highly-touted high school recruit.
According to their 247Sports Composite rankings, Maye was the 2021 recruiting class's 56th-ranked overall player – and ninth-ranked quarterback. Darnold was the 2015 class's 148th-ranked player nationally – and fifth-ranked dual threat QB.
Maye thrived in his two seasons as a starting quarterback at Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) High School, totaling 6,713 passing yards and 86 passing touchdowns, while helping his team to a pair of deep state playoff runs. Maye flipped from Alabama to North Carolina, a decision that proved extremely beneficial for his football career.
Darnold played his high school football at San Clemente (Calif.), breaking out in his senior campaign for 2,996 passing yards, 39 passing touchdowns, 785 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores, leading his teammates to the CIF Southwest Division Championship game. Darnold then committed to USC, quickly proving himself as a top 2018 NFL Draft
Maye entered his rookie, 2024 NFL season as the backup to Jacoby Brissett, but quickly took over with New England in desperate need of a fresh spark. The Patriots finished 4-13 and fired then-head coach Jerod Mayo, but Maye showcased glimpses of a franchise quarterback.
As Maye prepares to play the final game of his "Sophomore" NFL season, he's now an MVP favorite with 4,394 regular season passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns and a league-leading 77.1 QBR. Maye scored New England's lone touchdown in Sunday's low-scoring, 10-7 AFC Championship victory at the Denver Broncos, then scrambled for the game-clinching first down.
Darnold' path to stardom took a bit longer, as he dealt with years of dysfunction on the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. Darnold finally proved himself as an NFL starter with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, but his first season in the Pacific Northwest exceeded expectations and quieted any remaining doubts, leading Seattle to its first Super Bowl berth since 2015.
With Maye in Year Two and Darnold in Year Nine, who wins their first trip to the Super Bowl?
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on. Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Looking back at Drake Maye, Sam Darnold career paths before Super Bowl
Continue reading...
SaNow under two weeks out, the Super Bowl will feature the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Former UNC standout Drake Maye, in just his second NFL season, hopes to quarterback his Patriots teammates to their first Super Bowl title since 2019.
When Maye takes his first Super Bowl snap on February 8 in Santa Clara, he'll be doing so against Sam Darnold, a fellow former, highly-touted high school recruit.
According to their 247Sports Composite rankings, Maye was the 2021 recruiting class's 56th-ranked overall player – and ninth-ranked quarterback. Darnold was the 2015 class's 148th-ranked player nationally – and fifth-ranked dual threat QB.
Maye thrived in his two seasons as a starting quarterback at Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) High School, totaling 6,713 passing yards and 86 passing touchdowns, while helping his team to a pair of deep state playoff runs. Maye flipped from Alabama to North Carolina, a decision that proved extremely beneficial for his football career.
Darnold played his high school football at San Clemente (Calif.), breaking out in his senior campaign for 2,996 passing yards, 39 passing touchdowns, 785 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores, leading his teammates to the CIF Southwest Division Championship game. Darnold then committed to USC, quickly proving himself as a top 2018 NFL Draft
Maye entered his rookie, 2024 NFL season as the backup to Jacoby Brissett, but quickly took over with New England in desperate need of a fresh spark. The Patriots finished 4-13 and fired then-head coach Jerod Mayo, but Maye showcased glimpses of a franchise quarterback.
As Maye prepares to play the final game of his "Sophomore" NFL season, he's now an MVP favorite with 4,394 regular season passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns and a league-leading 77.1 QBR. Maye scored New England's lone touchdown in Sunday's low-scoring, 10-7 AFC Championship victory at the Denver Broncos, then scrambled for the game-clinching first down.
Darnold' path to stardom took a bit longer, as he dealt with years of dysfunction on the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. Darnold finally proved himself as an NFL starter with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, but his first season in the Pacific Northwest exceeded expectations and quieted any remaining doubts, leading Seattle to its first Super Bowl berth since 2015.
With Maye in Year Two and Darnold in Year Nine, who wins their first trip to the Super Bowl?
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on. Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Looking back at Drake Maye, Sam Darnold career paths before Super Bowl
Continue reading...
