CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina is moving forward with Conner Harrell as its starting quarterback after Max Johnson suffered a season-ending injury in the opening win at Minnesota. «He's just got to get confidence and go,» coach Mack Brown said Monday. «It's his.
It's his.» Johnson had beaten out Harrell to be the Game 1 starter but suffered a leg injury in the third quarter against the Gophers and had to be carted off and taken to a hospital.
He had surgery for a broken right leg in Minneapolis and Brown said Johnson was having another procedure Monday. Brown said Johnson will remain for a week or two in Minnesota, where UNC has left an assistant trainer behind to stay with him until he can return to Chapel Hill.
Now it's up to Harrell, a third-year sophomore who will make his second career start Saturday at home against Charlotte. «He's been told: 'You've got it,'» Brown said. «And the team's been told: 'Let's rally around your new quarterback and let's go, and let's make this work.' Like I said, he's really good.