Social media reacts to Drake Maye declaring for the NFL draft
The end to North Carolina Tar Heel Drake Maye's career is officially over with arguably the most talented quarterback in UNC history declaring for the NFL draft and forgoing the Duke Mayo Bowl game.
UNC fans already knew what Maye could bring when he flipped from Alabama to become a Tar Heel in 2020. However, after watching Sam Howell deliver stellar play for three seasons, not many expected Maye to continue UNC’s high-powered offense so quickly.
Maye not only continued to put a spotlight on UNC’s football program, he separated himself among one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. Maye is now in conversation to be one of the first players selected in the 2024 NFL draft if not first overall, so it’s not a shocker that he decided not to play in the Duke Mayo Bowl.
Sadly this decision brought some mixed reactions, with fans hoping the hometown kid would finish his Tar Heel career in Charlotte. However, the majority understood the right choice for Maye was to get ready for the Draft, and thanked him for his services and memories for the past three seasons.
Let’s look at how social media reacted to Maye’s declaration for the NFL draft.
It’s funny how so many fans turned their back on Drako! This man gave the University excitement for 3 years. Not all fans but the ones that’s mad about him leaving Kick Rocks!!!!!
— Marquise Williams (@1MjWilliams2) December 12, 2023
Oh no! Drake Maye not playing in a useless bowl game! https://t.co/jKsAFLzYdO
— Snake (@SnakeRanting) December 13, 2023
Four years ago, before he was declaring for the NFL Draft and become one of North Carolina's best players in a generation, Drake Maye was on @theobserver's Riding With Recruits@DrakeMaye2 l @myersparkfball l @UNCFootball https://t.co/LSNvfBpHfS pic.twitter.com/ZKjK3futSX
— Langston Wertz Jr. (@langstonwertzjr) December 11, 2023
All-time great. Thank you for everything, Drake🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵 https://t.co/iCHQnu8jxv
— UNC Barstool (@UNCBarstool) December 11, 2023
An incredible story. The guy we first knew as “Luke’s little brother” who turned into a @UNCFootball great. And never changed even a little bit while doing it.
All time great UNC QB. All time great UNC person.
Can’t wait to watch him thrive at the next level. https://t.co/zNOZtlt5dk
— Adam Lucas (@jadamlucas) December 11, 2023
Over the last two seasons Maye accounted for 9,076 total yards, the most of any player in the sport.
What a joy to watch. https://t.co/Z14yBtAtdd
— Bryan Ives (@awaytoworthy) December 11, 2023
A potential top pick heads to the NFL. https://t.co/DBOEE5Cgl9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 11, 2023
Go be great. Wherever he ends up will be Team 1B for me! https://t.co/FGodkomOyF pic.twitter.com/DbEHRGptkO
— Tar Heel Step, MBA (@sjackson1271) December 12, 2023
The most purely talented quarterback we have ever seen play in that Tar Heel uniform. Wish it could have resulted in more wins, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Now it’s time to go tear up the NFL. https://t.co/8cGZvT7Jcq
— Anthony Pagnotta (Flounder) (@HTBAnthony) December 12, 2023
Get your 💰 King! We 🩵 you and you are the epitome of what it means to be a Tar Heel Born and a Tar Heel Bred! First Round Draft Pick loading… https://t.co/D5Kl7k9N52
— Nicole/Nicolasa (@LilNiK8) December 11, 2023
🐏 https://t.co/R0BpfS62P6 pic.twitter.com/MXKz0diMtM
— ♛Young Simba♛ (A Leaky Black Stan Account) (@CrownedPrinceHC) December 11, 2023
Gonna miss my QB1! Words escape me at the moment. Just know I love you and I’m so proud of you! https://t.co/QyQobwNbfH
— Mitch Mason (@tarheelchaplain) December 11, 2023
Sad to see you leave, but very excited to see what the future holds for you! Go be great, @DrakeMaye2! #TarHeel4ever https://t.co/02g3xp57sg
— Big Mama (@BigMama279) December 11, 2023
Why even play a bowl game if everyone is going to opt out! Best wishes but I wish sports were the way they used to be https://t.co/FDtEmACXH8
— Stanley Roberson (@srobersonjr) December 11, 2023
Very likely to be my QB 1. Huge fan of what I've seen from Drake Maye. Has outstanding manipulation ability in the pocket and with his eyes to open up passing lanes.pic.twitter.com/Ol2ydFT8s7 https://t.co/6EzczG7ceB
— Nick Martin (@themicknartin) December 11, 2023
https://t.co/LIlMwya0Lj pic.twitter.com/gvhMtcAlhP
— Gennifer Young (@YoungGennifer) December 12, 2023
My QB1 in the ‘24 Draft rn https://t.co/WHmYd4rcA1 pic.twitter.com/GsAYs0BSoa
— Xavier D. Triche (@Xavier_Triche) December 11, 2023
Renner
Williams
Trubisky
Howell
MayeHasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows, but to see all 5 of them play in-person during my time at Carolina has been pretty awesome. Go be great, 10! https://t.co/X9TDQ3PTHQ
— Stephen Iannotta (@StephenIannotta) December 12, 2023
The end of the Maye Family era in Chapel Hill.
Thank you all for always being true Tar Heels. 🩵🩵 https://t.co/ckfs5D3OUU— Countesses of UNC (@CountessesofUNC) December 11, 2023
Can we still use this https://t.co/fVitzbRjE6 pic.twitter.com/jjeDRfPKpR
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) December 11, 2023
One of the rare kids who sticks with a school even when NIL comes calling. Thanks for everything and can't wait to see where you end up! https://t.co/Sp8cztPPgc
— Ian J. Ebert (@HeelToTheDome) December 11, 2023
Best QB prospect North Carolina has ever produced, looking forward to watching Drake play on Sundays https://t.co/hcvRf2bLo1
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) December 11, 2023
https://t.co/2caFOodv3P pic.twitter.com/qZnKmcO8qy
— Gregory Hall (@gregoryhall_) December 11, 2023
https://t.co/WBXrYUM4Em pic.twitter.com/syXJFq9zGo
— Walmart UNC Fan Finder (@UncFinder) December 11, 2023
The young man under the helmet will always be under appreciated. Lucky to have been able to watch him. #UNC https://t.co/Mf6BPRB3iY
— Joey Powell (@Joey_Powell) December 11, 2023