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The North Carolina football team landed a commitment from a familiar face this week in quarterback Jacolby Criswell. An Arkansas Razorback last season, he will rejoin the Tar Heels after spending the first three seasons of his college career in Chapel Hill.
While the move adds a former four-star talent to the 2024 roster, it also raises questions surrounding what’s becoming a very crowded UNC QB room.
Criswell will join Max Johnson and Conner Harrell at his position group, and no one’s quite certain what the move will mean for the future under center.
Is the coaching staff’s faith in Johnson and Harrell dwindling? It’s an interesting time to bring in another signal caller with spring practice having just wrapped up.
In the spring game, Max Johnson completed 8-of-9 passes for 80 yards. Harrell was a big-play threat, going 4-of-6 for 161 yards.
Criswell, meanwhile, suited up for the Razorbacks in their annual spring game, completing 3-of-6 attempts.
Jacolby Criswell now returns to UNC to compete for the starting role.
Mack Brown opted to bring his former reserve back to campus in hopes of creating more competition in the QB room. Already familiar with Criswell’s game, it would seem that the passer might have a leg up in the race from the get-go.
Of course, he’ll have to make up for lost time after spending his spring in Arkansas. He transferred to Fayetteville ahead of the 2023 season after backing up Drake Maye the year prior.
Now, he’s back and the position is up for grabs!
What happens next in that quarterback race?
Max Johnson is still the most accomplished passer in the group, having played in 30 games across four seasons at LSU and Texas A&M.
Conner Harrell has made just one start in three seasons with UNC, the same number made by Criswell throughout his time in Chapel Hill.
It should be a fun battle to watch play out!