CHAPEL HILL, NC (93.7 The Fan) – Hendon Hooker is a Heisman candidate, Malik Cunningham is one of the more dynamic quarterbacks, but Pat Narduzzi said they will face the best quarterback Saturday at North Carolina.
"He's a first-round quarterback, you can mark that down now," Narduzzi said. "I have no doubt about it. He's got the size, he's got the athletic ability. He's got great vision. He's calm in the pocket."
"He's just really talented. He's a natural quarterback, he can scramble, run, he can do it all."
"This guy is elusive, smooth in the pocket. He's in the top two, he's like a Trevor Lawrence. He can throw every ball. He's talented."
The numbers would back that up, 24 touchdowns to three interceptions. He's thrown for at least 280 yards and two touchdowns every game. Maye, a former Alabama commitment before Bryce Young arrived, is light years the best freshman quarterback in the nation, 13 more touchdowns than Texas QB Quinn Ewers. He's also rushed for 378 yards and three touchdowns.
"I think he's a really good quarterback," said Pitt Defensive Coordinator Randy Bates. "He's a great thrower. He's big, he can run. I think it's the same offense, Sam Howell was a great quarterback too. I think he's just matured early and doing a great job of leading the team. He's a great runner along with throwing for eighth or ninth in the country. They are a great offense, they are not average."
"I think he's a really good quarterback," said Pitt safety Erick Hallett. "I think he's different from Howell in the fact that he's not as much of a runner. I think his build is a little slimmer, but I think he also has an NFL level arm. He has tremendous receivers on the outside. I think he does a really good job of extending plays, playing off-schedule."
Maye has led the Tar Heels to the best offense in the ACC, averaging 41.7 points a game. They rarely turn it over and have lost only to Notre Dame this year. How will Pitt defend him?
"The NCAA will not let us play with 12 guys," Narduzzi said. "We have to do what we do."
Then Narduzzi went deep in the memory banks for an example of how they just need to keep their defense simple and execute.
"I made a mistake back in 2002 back at Northern Illinois," Narduzzi remembered. "I had to play this quarterback, number 7 from Miami of Ohio, Ben Roethlisberger. He threw for 525 yards. We changed the coverage up so many times, we just said we can't defend this guy.
We just confused ourselves."
Yes, they will do things to try and confuse the freshman, but you'll see the same man. It will be up to that secondary to plaster and the front seven to get pressure. Basically, do what they do and as Bates added, stay away from big plays.
"Their offense is crazy," said Pitt linebacker Tylar Wiltz. "They scheduled (us) for Homecoming, this is the second Homecoming game in a row. You have to feel some kind of disrespect."
"We saw as Coach Duzz put it up there, 'damn, another Homecoming'. Did they do this on purpose? We are going to go out there, do what we do. The outcome has to happen."
"We are not working hard for no reason. I have faith it will happen."
