University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Grant Halverson
Howell Named to Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
July 30, 2021 | Football
NEW HAVEN, CT – Carolina quarterback Sam Howell begins the 2021 season on the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, announced Friday by the Foundation.
Howell enters his junior campaign as one of the top signal callers in college football. His 68 career passing touchdowns are tied for the most in UNC history and the the most ever by an ACC quarterback through a sophomore year.
After tossing an FBS true freshman record 38 touchdowns in 2019, the Indian Trail, N.C. native led the ACC and ranked sixth nationally with 30 touchdown passes in 2020. Additionally, Howell ranked fourth in the country and topped the league with 3,586 passing yards last fall in helping lead the Tar Heels to the Orange Bowl for the first time in program history.
Howell, who has already been named preseason first-team All-America by Walter Camp, was also placed on the Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien Award watch lists earlier this month.
The 2021 watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in mid-November. The 2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 130 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on ESPN on Thursday, December 9. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation's 55th annual national awards banquet on January 15, 2022 in New Haven, Conn.
For up-to-date information on Carolina football, visit GoHeels.com/Football and follow us on Twitter (@TarHeelFootball), Instagram (@tarheelfootball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/TarHeelFootball).
Howell enters his junior campaign as one of the top signal callers in college football. His 68 career passing touchdowns are tied for the most in UNC history and the the most ever by an ACC quarterback through a sophomore year.
After tossing an FBS true freshman record 38 touchdowns in 2019, the Indian Trail, N.C. native led the ACC and ranked sixth nationally with 30 touchdown passes in 2020. Additionally, Howell ranked fourth in the country and topped the league with 3,586 passing yards last fall in helping lead the Tar Heels to the Orange Bowl for the first time in program history.
Howell, who has already been named preseason first-team All-America by Walter Camp, was also placed on the Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien Award watch lists earlier this month.
The 2021 watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in mid-November. The 2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 130 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on ESPN on Thursday, December 9. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation's 55th annual national awards banquet on January 15, 2022 in New Haven, Conn.
For up-to-date information on Carolina football, visit GoHeels.com/Football and follow us on Twitter (@TarHeelFootball), Instagram (@tarheelfootball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/TarHeelFootball).
Players Mentioned
Aranza Vázquez Montaño - 2025 Patterson Medal Honoree On-Field Recognition - November 8, 2025
Monday, November 10
Carolina Insider - Interview with Luka Bogavac (Full Segment) - November 10, 2025
Monday, November 10
UNC Volleyball: Tar Heels Sweep Cal on Road
Sunday, November 09
UNC Wrestling: Tar Heels Trounce Northern Colorado in Home Opener, 40-0
Sunday, November 09














