NFL Draft

Drake Maye Shreds Syracuse for 497 Total Yards, 4 TDs in Blowout Win

One of this year's top QB prospects put on a show Saturday against the Orange.

Luke Easterling

Drake Maye Shreds Syracuse for 497 Total Yards, 4 TDs in Blowout Win
Drake Maye Shreds Syracuse for 497 Total Yards, 4 TDs in Blowout Win /
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The 2023 season hadn't been a statistical boon for North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye heading into this weekend, but he delivered a breakout performance in Saturday's 40-7 win over Syracuse.

Maye completed 33 of his 47 pass attempts for 442 yards and three touchdowns through the air (no interceptions), adding 55 more yards and another score on the ground.

Still widely regarded as the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft class (trailing only USC's Caleb Williams), Maye put on an absolute clinic against an Orange team that brought a 4-1 record into Saturday's game, showing off all the traits that should make him a franchise passer at the next level:

It's also worth noting that Maye did most of his damage in the first half, as the Tar Heels built up a sizable lead and took their foot off the gas the rest of the way:

While Williams is still the comfortable favorite to be next year's No. 1 overall pick, Maye is the kind of quarterback prospect who would take that spot in just about any other draft class, which could make him a bargain for whoever lands him next April.

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Luke Easterling
LUKE EASTERLING

Luke Easterling (he/him) has been covering college football and the NFL for more than two decades, with a particular focus on the nexus of both, the NFL Draft. Writing for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in sports media, Luke's experience and expertise in evaluating potential NFL prospects and evaluating team needs/fits has earned the appreciation of his readers, and the respect of his peers. Luke cut his sports journalism teeth at The Tampa Tribune before spending two years at Bleacher Report as a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke then spent nearly seven years at USA TODAY Sports Media Group as editor of Draft Wire and Bucs Wire, building both into authoritative destination sites for their respective audiences. Now at The Arena Group, Luke covers the NFL and college football for Athlon Sports, and runs Sports Illustrated's FanNation site for the NFL Draft. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Luke has been a featured guest on ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Fox Sports Radio, SiriusXM and more.  Based in Tampa, Florida (the true home of the Cuban sandwich), Luke plays the drums, loves 2000s pop-punk, watches way too many British murder mystery shows, and channels the energy of his deep-south Grammy and his full-Italian Nana in the kitchen. Twitter: @lukeeasterling Email: luke.easterling@si.com

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