Prospect Bio

Playing at Sun Valley High School in Monroe, North Carolina, Sam Howell contributed in each of his four years. Howell totaled 13,415 passing yards, 145 passing touchdowns, 3,621 rushing yards and 60 rushing touchdowns in his high school career. His high school career mark of 17,036 total yards are the most all time in North Carolina high school history; he finished second all time in passing yards. Howell led Sun Valley to the second round of the North Carolina 3AA state playoffs his senior year. He ranked as a top-100 overall prospect in the class of 2019 and third overall dual-threat quarterback in the class and top recruit for Mack Brown.

Howell took over the starting job once he arrived in Chapel Hill. As a true freshman, Howell set a team and FBS-record of 38 passing touchdowns. He led the Tar Heels to a 7-6 record, including a bowl win over Temple and taking then number-one Clemson to the wire in a 20-21 loss. Howell followed up a historic freshman season with an 8-4 mark in a Covid plagued season. North Carolina rose as high as 5th in the AP poll. While Howell fell short of his 38 passing touchdowns as a freshman, he managed over 10 yards per attempt (10.3 YPA) and completed 68.1% of his attempts.

Howell’s junior season was his worst statistically, but North Carolina still managed to finish 6-6. Howell rushed for 828 yards, finishing third amongst quarterbacks behind Louisville’s Malik Cunningham and Liberty’s Malik Willis. Howell finished his Tar Heel career as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (10,283), yards per attempt (9.2), and passing touchdowns (92).

College Stats

Sam Howell College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference.com

Positives

+ Multi-sport athlete in high school

+ Accurate passer

+ Will hang in the pocket

+ Works through progressions

+ Quick throwing motion

+ Can throw from different angles

+ Good arm strength and placement

+ Has shown mobile capability

+ 10.3 yards per attempt (95th-percentile, PlayerProfiler)

+ 19.0 breakout age (91st-percentile, PlayerProfiler)

Negatives

– Can be too focused on primary read

– Has turned the ball over in the red zone

– Will drift in the pocket at times

– Will pat the ball before throwing

– Pocket awareness/internal clock can be lacking at times

Highlight Reel

Comparable Player: TBD

NFL Draft Projection: 1st/2nd round

Bottom Line:

After 2020, many believed Howell would be the first quarterback off the board. However, a down 2021 season dropped Howell down draft boards. With the results from 2021, some may lump him with Mitchell Trubisky and his lack of early success due to their Tar Heel ties.

Ultimately, Howell lost four NFL-caliber players after the 2020 season in Dyami Brown, Dazz Newsome, Javonte Williams, and Michael Carter. It should have been no surprise for regression both individually and as a team. Leaving as a true junior, Howell started 37 of North Carolina’s 38 games; Trubisky started just 13 for North Carolina. Howell has started his last seven years of football and has been successful everywhere he’s gone. Howell has shown tendencies at North Carolina over the last three years that should welcome him near the top of this class’s quarterback discussion.

Post Draft Analysis:

Another draft day free fall. Howell was projected to go in the early second round, with some even mocking him in the first. However, he didn’t hear his name called until the first pick of the fifth round. He will compete with Taylor Heinicke for the backup job behind Carson Wentz. Of course, Wentz is no guarantee to hang onto the starting gig. A few too many sacks or bad turnovers may be all it takes for the former North Carolina quarterback to be thrust into the lineup. When he does, he’ll have weapons in Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas, Jahan Dotson, and his former college teammate Dyami Brown to throw to.

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

Yards Per-Formance Prospect Grade