UNC’s quarterbacks room just welcomed a familiar face via the transfer portal. Jacolby Criswell is returning to Chapel Hill after a year at Arkansas.
Criswell was a backup for three years at Chapel Hill during a period when UNC suited up its best two quarterbacks Sam Howell and Drake Maye. After Howell declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season, Mack Brown and former offensive coordinator Phil Longo were both adamant that Maye and Criswell were neck and neck for the starting quarterback job for the 2022 season. Maye ended up winning the starting nod and never looked back.
With no realistic road to meaningful playing time in 2023, Criswell entered the transfer portal and went to Fayetteville, Arkansas, a mere two-hour drive from his hometown of Morrilton. Unfortunately, Criswell only managed to play in four games (17-27 passing for 143 yards, 3 passing touchdowns), as he was firmly behind starter KJ Jefferson in the Razorback pecking order.
Former and “again” head coach Bobby Petrino returns to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium next season, and he plucked Boise State quarterback Taylen Green out of the transfer portal. When a new coach brings “his guy” to campus, it’s not hard to read the writing on the wall. It was time for Criswell to make a move.
UNC has a legitimate quarterback competition this summer between returning sophomore Conner Harrell and Texas A&M (and LSU) transfer Max Johnson. When redshirt freshman Tad Hudson left for the portal, it opened up a spot in the quarterback room for depth, so what better addition than somebody familiar with the program who showed plenty of arm talent and wheels during his time in Chapel Hill? Criswell is a great depth piece that can easily push both the starter and back-up.
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