Sam Howell Takes Stage as UNC's QB Frontrunner Posted Aug 20, 2019 If it seemed Mack Brown was hedging his bets in announcing true freshman Sam Howell as UNC’s first-team quarterback instead of the team’s starter against South Carolina. Following UNC’s final training camp practice on Monday night, however, there appears to be good reason for Brown to explain the quarterback situation in the manner in which he did. (Inside Carolina)