Drake Maye is the starting quarterback for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team. He is also the younger brother of Luke Maye, a former star for the UNC basketball team. But the Maye family legacy at UNC goes beyond these two brothers. In this article, we will explore the connections and achievements of the Mayes in Chapel Hill.
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Drake Maye: The Rising Star of UNC Football
Drake Maye was born on August 30, 2002, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended Myers Park High School, where he was a four-star prospect and the MaxPreps North Carolina player of the year. He originally committed to Alabama, but later flipped to North Carolina, following his brother’s footsteps.
Drake redshirted his freshman season in 2021, playing in four games as a backup to Sam Howell. He got his first career touchdown pass against Wofford, when Howell was injured. He also showed his mobility with four carries for 38 yards.
In 2022, Drake won the starting job after a close competition with Jacolby Criswell. He made his debut against Florida A&M, throwing for 294 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the first Tar Heel quarterback to do so in his first start. He followed that up with another stellar performance against App State, passing for 352 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 76 yards and a touchdown in a thrilling 63-61 victory.
Drake continued to impress throughout the season, leading the Tar Heels to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Holiday Bowl. He finished the season with 3,842 passing yards, 38 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions, 612 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He was named the ACC Player of the Year, the ACC Offensive Player of the Year, the ACC Rookie of the Year, the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-ACC selection. He also won the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award.
Drake has shown that he is not only related to Luke Maye, but also capable of creating his own legacy at UNC.
Luke Maye: The Hero of UNC Basketball
Luke Maye is the older brother of Drake Maye, and he is also a former standout for the UNC basketball team. He was born on March 7, 1997, in Huntersville, North Carolina. He attended Hough High School, where he was a three-star recruit and a two-time state champion.
Luke joined UNC as a walk-on in 2015, but quickly earned a scholarship and a spot in the rotation. He became a key contributor for the Tar Heels in his sophomore season, averaging 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He also hit one of the most memorable shots in UNC history: a game-winning jumper against Kentucky in the Elite Eight of the 2017 NCAA Tournament, sending UNC to the Final Four and eventually to the national championship.
Luke became a star in his junior and senior seasons, averaging a double-double in both years. He was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and Sporting News in 2018, and a second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today in 2019. He was also a two-time first-team All-ACC selection and won the ACC Most Improved Player award in 2018.
Luke went undrafted by the NBA in 2019, but he did not give up on his basketball dream. He currently plays professionally in Spain for Covirán Granada.
Luke has shown that he is not only related to Drake Maye, but also one of the best players to ever wear the UNC jersey.
Mark Maye: The Father of UNC Athletes
Mark Maye is the father of Drake and Luke Maye, and he is also a former quarterback for the UNC football team. He was born on February 6, 1965, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended Independence High School, where he was a highly rated recruit and an All-American.
Mark joined UNC in 1984 and became the starting quarterback in 1986 and 1987. He led the Tar Heels to a 7-4-1 record and an Aloha Bowl appearance in 1986, throwing for over 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. His best game came against Georgia Tech, when he passed for 406 yards and four touchdowns. He had a less successful season in 1987, going 5-6 with more interceptions than touchdowns.
Mark graduated from UNC with a degree in business administration and pursued a career in real estate. He married Aimee Coley, who played volleyball at UNC Charlotte. They have four children: Luke, Cole (a baseball player at Florida), Drake and Beau (a high school football player).
Mark has shown that he is not only the father of Drake and Luke Maye, but also a proud Tar Heel who started the Maye family legacy at UNC.
Conclusion
Drake Maye is related to Luke Maye, but they are not the only Mayes who have made an impact at UNC. Their father Mark Maye was also a quarterback for the Tar Heels, and their mother Aimee Coley was a volleyball player at UNC Charlotte. The Maye family has a strong legacy in Chapel Hill, and Drake Maye is adding to that with his stellar play on the gridiron. He is not only following his brother’s footsteps, but also carving his own path as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.
