The “ACC Kickoff” event, which marks an important milestone on the path to the new college football season, is set to start next Monday in Charlotte. This event, essentially the ACC’s media days, allows the conference’s coaches and key players to engage with both local and national media as they gear up for the upcoming season.
On Monday, the ACC announced the roster of representatives from its 17 schools who will attend the event, including five players from the North Carolina Tar Heels who will join coach Mack Brown. Let’s examine these five players and see what insights their selection might offer.
Three of the chosen players are clear choices, as they are expected to be among the top performers this season. Running back Omarion Hampton, edge rusher Kamion Rucker, and linebacker Power Echols are all likely to play significant roles for the Tar Heels, making their selection unsurprising.
The other two selections are not unexpected either, but they do reflect the ongoing uncertainty about one of the team’s biggest questions this season. The additional players are the two quarterbacks competing for the starting position: incoming transfer Max Johnson and last year’s backup Connor Harrell.
Given the crucial role quarterbacks play in football, it’s common for teams to highlight their importance both on the field and in shaping the season’s narrative. Of the 17 ACC teams, only two are not sending a quarterback to Charlotte. Like UNC, Cal, Duke, and SMU are each sending two quarterbacks to the event. Even if the starting quarterback hasn’t been decided yet, it’s logical to have both contenders interact with the media at this stage.
However, sending both quarterbacks could indicate ongoing uncertainty about the final decision. It might be a strategic move to avoid giving early opponents additional preparation time. This contrasts with the previous seasons, where quarterbacks Sam Howell and Drake Maye were either definitively starting or widely expected to secure the position.
During the media day, both quarterbacks are likely to face numerous questions about the competition, but until then, we can only speculate about the situation.
