UNC QB Sam Howell Says His Biggest Strength Has Nothing To Do With Tangible Football Skills

• With the NFL draft just over a month away, Sam Howell’s draft stock is unique.
• He recently discussed why he could be great and what he needs to work on, and both skills are intangible in terms of athletic ability.
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Sam Howell is one of the more interesting quarterback prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft. The three-year starter for North Carolina was considered to be a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2021 but did not explode onto the scene like expected.

Howell, at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, is considered a dual-threat quarterback with the ability to both throw a crisp deep ball and run defenders over in open space. His ability to “spin it” is what stands out the most.

Over the course of his three years in Chapel Hill, Howell broke more than 25 school records with the most notable being career passing yards, career passing touchdowns, career passing efficiency and career total offense. He was very impressive statistically.

Despite his big numbers, the Tar Heels never won more than eight games. And, at times, there were questions about whether Howell could win in the clutch.

While much of his team’s struggles were caused by factors out of his control (the talent around him and offensive coordinator Phil Longo), there were times where Howell’s ability to finish came into question. That doesn’t mean that he can’t play.

After declaring for the NFL Draft, the 21-year-old lit it up at the Senior Bowl and impressed at the NFL Combine. In addition, when scouts get to breaking down the tape, there will be a lot to like with Howell.

However, he thinks that his biggest strength has nothing to do with his play.

Howell recently discussed his strengths and weaknesses with CBS Sports HQ. He said that while he is still learning to play within himself, which is absolutely his biggest flaw, his leadership is unmatched.

The North Carolina-native believes that he has what it takes to takeover an NFL locker room.

“I think the main thing that really separates me is my ability to lead a team and rally a team,” Howell said. “My guys at North Carolina kind of rallied around me, and I can get those guys going pretty well, better than anyone else.”

While leadership may be a strong quality to look for in a quarterback, Howell might want to consider selling himself better as an athlete. As for what he can work on, he says that he needs to do less and just ball— which is also not particularly confidence-inducing.

“One of the things people say I need to work on is I try to do too much,” Howell said. “This past season, we were struggling a little bit, and I put a little pressure on myself to do a little more than I was asked to do. It helped us at times, and it certainly hurt us at times. That’s one of the things I’m working on.”

If the NFL Draft were to take place today, Howell is projected to hear his name called in the second round. That could change between now and April, but his draft stock seems to be in Day 2 territory.