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THE SITUATION
Sam Howell has been committed to Florida State since April, largely because of the efforts of former Seminoles offensive coordinator Walt Bell. When Bell became the head coach at UMass, Howell decided to look at some of his other options, but he remained committed to Florida State.
The coaching turnover at North Carolina that brought in Mack Brown for his second stint as head coach of the Tar Heels turned out to be a great thing for North Carolina’s recruitment of Howell. The in-state quarterback and Rivals100 prospect flipped his commitment from Florida State to North Carolina on the first day of the Early Signing Period after having a long conversation with new offensive coordinator Phil Longo and staying overnight in Chapel Hill on Sunday.
WHY IT'S BIG FOR NORTH CAROLINA
The quarterback situation at North Carolina has been inconsistent, to say the least, since Mitch Trubisky left for the NFL following the 2016 season. Howell is the most talented quarterback North Carolina has gotten since Trubisky left. Mack Brown’s second stint as head coach of the Tar Heels could not be off to a better start. Reeling in Howell is his first marquee recruit, and there will surely be more to follow. In the meantime, the Tar Heels' current players will look for Howell - once he gets on campus in January - to quickly grasp the offense and get this team moving in the right direction. The foundation that he gives this team will allow the coaching staff to build up other areas of weakness and solidify the future of the program. It also signals to other in-state prospects that North Carolina is once again a very viable option for big-time recruits.
SCHOOLS IT HURTS THE MOST
Losing Howell is a body blow to Willie Taggart and Florida State. The Noles’ quarterback situation is unstable, to stay the least, and bringing in a talented quarterback like Howell would have provided a bright spot in this abnormally low-ranked recruiting class. Taggart is known for his offensive mind and ability to recruit top prospects, but that reputation has taken a significant beating with how this recruiting class and Howell‘s recruitment has turned out. The results on the field did not match what Taggert was expected to bring in this year, and so far the recruiting class mirrors those underwhelming results. To say he’s gotten off to a rocky start in Tallahassee would be an understatement.
