Who’s the starting quarterback for North Carolina football? Here we go again

In a way, it’s almost like going back to square one.

In short, who’s starting at quarterback for North Carolina?

UNC coach Mack Brown was coy about it in preseason camp, letting the Minnesota coaches guess if Max Johnson or Conner Harrell would be the starting QB in the 2024 season opener.

Now, the question is Harrell or Jacolby Criswell?

After a broken leg at Minnesota knocked Johnson out for the season, Harrell took over, finishing out the Tar Heels’ 19-17 win, then was the starter in victories over Charlotte and N.C. Central. But the UNC coaches gave Criswell a chance to play early in the Central game and he had the hotter hand in running UNC’s offense Saturday in the 45-10 win.

“The game dictates what you do. And I thought he was having some success,” Brown said Monday.

Criswell said he wasn’t flashy. He was right. But he played well enough, and effectively enough, to raise questions about a starter against James Madison in Saturday’s game at Kenan Stadium.

Brown wasn’t saying Monday, calling it a “discussion day.” Neither did offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who said, “There’s merit to both those guys playing, but we’ll go through the week and see how it goes.”

Odds are, both QBs will be used against the Dukes (2-0) and that Harrell could again be the starter for the Tar Heels (3-0), with Criswell again fully engaged and ready to go -- the UNC depth chart has Harrell “or” Criswell listed at QB.

“We’ve got to play both of them,” Brown said. “We’ve got to get their experience caught up as fast as we can.”

Harrell, a redshirt sophomore, now has played in eight games the past two years, getting his first start in the 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl against West Virginia when quarterback Drake Maye opted out.

While a graduate student, Criswell has not had extensive playing time. Signing with UNC, the Arkansas native appeared in 14 games over three seasons with the Heels before transferring to Arkansas. He was in four games for the Razorbacks in the 2023 season and completed 17 of 27 passes for 143 yards, with three touchdowns.

Brown said during his first talks with Criswell about a transfer back to UNC, he told him, “We’re not sure where it’s going to go this fall, but for sure in the spring you’ll have a chance to compete for the job.”

Brown said he was upfront with Criswell’s father, who asked Brown what he would advise Jacolby if Jacolby was his son.

Brown’s reply: “If it’s about starting, I wouldn’t come because you’ve got some things you’ve got to overcome. I don’t think you will be the starter this fall. No spring practice, not here in the summer. These two guys (Johnson, Harrell) have had all the reps. It’s a new offense from when you were here before.

“If you look at the facts, to be fair to you. I would tell you that it does not look like you’re going to come in and be the starter.”

Brown said he came away from those discussions believing Criswell would not transfer. Three days later, Criswell called to say he started his college career at North Carolina and wanted to finish it at North Carolina.

Once in Chapel Hill, Criswell has played catchup as best he can, getting a grip on Lindsey’s offense while also dropping 15 pounds the past month.

“The transition was harder than I expected, but I came in and put my head down and worked,” Criswell said Saturday. “I knew, with Max and Conner, this was their team moving forward and I was going to help them and I was going to wait for my turn.”

Criswell was told last week he would go in on the third possession against NCCU. He took it from there, ending the game with 161 yards passing, including a TD throw to tight end John Copenhaver.

“He’s made tremendous progress,” Lindsey said Monday. “What I’ve seen, since Max went down, was a bigger sense of urgency, probably, on his part. He’s worked really hard to get himself physically ready to go.”

Criswell just wanted to be back at UNC, back in the football mix. He’s in it.

“So it’s working for him now to have a chance to play,” Brown said.

UNC (3-0) vs James Madison (2-0)

When: Saturday, 12 p.m.

Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill.

TV: ACC Network.

Series: UNC is 3-0 against the Dukes, winning 56-28 in 2016, 42-10 in 2011 and 37-14 in 2007. The three games were at Kenan Stadium.