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Notre Dame football at North Carolina Tar Heels: 3 players to watch

By Andrew Hall

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 24: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back to pass during their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Kenan Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 24: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back to pass during their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Kenan Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football could have a tough time with Sam Howell Friday (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Notre Dame football could have a tough time with Sam Howell Friday (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

The No. 2 Notre Dame football team travels to play Mack Brown and the No. 19 North Carolina Tar Heels on Friday afternoon.

The No. 2-ranked Notre Dame football team travels to Chapel Hill to take on the No. 19 North Carolina on Friday in one last big test this regular season. The Irish program faced unique challenges this week as they replace two injured offensive linemen.

Here are 3 players to watch on Friday afternoon:

Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

When Sam Howell, a top-100 quarterback in the class of 2019, flipped from Florida State to North Carolina, the fortunes of the two programs shifted drastically. Howell immediately started in Chapel Hill and in  2019, his freshman season, he threw for 3641 yards with 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

So far this year, he is completing 67.7% of his passes for 2631 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Howell is not much of a threat to run, as, in his career with the Tar Heels, he has carried the ball 157 carries for 108 yards or an average of 0.7 yards per carry.

Howell could be the best quarterback that the Irish have faced thus far. According to WalterFootball.com, Howell could be the top pick in the 2022 draft. Whether or not D.J. Uiagalelei is better at this point in his career is debatable.

Regardless, Howell is an elite quarterback.

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