Drake Maye Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the 2022 Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the 2023 NFL season, North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye is one of the top returning quarterbacks in the country and is widely projected to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

As a result, there were many rumors suggesting that he might transfer to a more traditional powerhouse program like the Alabama Crimson Tide or the Georgia Bulldogs. But it sounds like that was never an option.

During an interview with Pro Football Focus this week, Drake Maye revealed that he never had any plans to leave North Carolina, even if he could have gone elsewhere.

“I really didn’t have any intentions ever to leave,” Maye told Pro Football Focus. “I wanted to play here, and this is where I want to end up graduating.”

Maye explained that playing for North Carolina means a great deal to him, and it’s not something he’s ready to give up.

“Carolina blue means a lot to me,” Maye told Pro Football Focus. “It means something playing for my home state.”

Regardless of his team, Maye enters the 2023 season with plenty of attention as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. It will be interesting to see if he’s able to live up to the reputation.

[Pro Football Focus]