CHAPEL HILL 鈥 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.
鈥淗e鈥檚 just got to get confidence and go,鈥 coach Mack Brown said Monday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 his. It鈥檚 his.鈥
Johnson had beaten out Harrell to be the Game 1 starter, but suffered a leg injury in the third quarter against the Golden 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 had 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 Johnson until he鈥檚 able to return to Chapel Hill.
Now, it鈥檚 up to Harrell, a third-year sophomore who will make his second career start on Saturday at home against Charlotte.
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鈥淗e鈥檚 been told: 鈥榊ou鈥檝e got it,鈥欌 Brown said. 鈥淎nd the team鈥檚 been told: 鈥楲et鈥檚 rally around your new quarterback and let鈥檚 go, and let鈥檚 make this work.鈥 Like I said, he鈥檚 really good. So, it鈥檚 time for him to go have fun and play good.鈥
Harrell appeared in five games as a backup to eventual No. 3 overall NFL Draft pick Drake Maye last season, then started the Duke鈥檚 Mayo Bowl loss to West Virginia after Maye declared for the draft.
He closed out the win last Thursday at Minnesota after Johnson鈥檚 exit, completing 2 of 4 passes for 34 yards.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen him be way more confident and way more assertive with our team,鈥 offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said. 鈥淗e was thrown into a tough situation the other night ... He executed and did what we asked him to do.
鈥淚 think you鈥檙e going to see him evolve. He鈥檚 still a young player.鈥
Brown said the goal for Johnson, the son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, is to have him participate in virtual team or quarterback meetings until his return, and then have him help coach the other passers.
The school has said Johnson is expected to make a full recovery and that the passer still has two years of eligibility remaining.