ACC Football: Each team’s top Heisman Trophy candidate for 2020

Here at the ACC Power Ranking headquarters, our straw poll has already decided Sam “One Possession” Howell is the greatest player in the history of North Carolina football — sorry, LT and Julius Peppers. What does the greatest player in Tar Heel history need to add to his legacy? A Heisman Trophy, of course.

Sincerely, Howell is a legitimate Heisman dark-horse in the eyes of many this season. If North Carolina is as good as most sportswriters think they are going to be this year, Howell is going to make his way on many watchlists.

Howell has the benefit of growing with his wide receivers and running backs. The Tar Heels bring back 87 percent of their returning production this season, which means pretty much everyone is back in year two of Phil Longo’s offense. In this shortened offseason, continuity means everything.

Howell’s candidacy rests on his shoulders. He needs to take the next step in his maturation and development. One of the reasons he and the Tar Heels played so many one-possession games is the early mistakes Howell made.

The sophomore quarterback needs to be more consistent throughout an entire game. Some of those mistakes are forgivable since he was a true freshman. If he becomes more efficient and the Tar Heels live up to the hype, Howell just might find himself in New York in December.