North Carolina

2024 NFL mock draft roundup: Where is North Carolina QB Drake Maye predicted to go?

Published

2 years ago

April 16, 2024

2024 NFL mock draft roundup: Where is North Carolina QB Drake Maye predicted to go?

The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off next week. Hundreds of college players will hope to hear their names called in Campus Martius Park in Detroit during the three days of the draft. One of those players who will likely hear their name called early in the draft is North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

Which teams need a QB in NFL draft? Ranking all 32 based on outlook at position

The son of former World League of America Football (WLAF) quarterback Mark Maye and younger brother of Tar Heels basketball star Luke Maye, Drake Maye started at quarterback for two years at North Carolina. He earned ACC Player of the Year honors in 2022, led the conference in passing in 2023 and finished the 2023 season third in the FBS in total offense per game.

As a prospect, Maye’s prototypical size at 6 feet, 4 inches tall and 223 lbs. and arm strength at just 21 years old makes him one of the more enticing prospects in the draft. He has reliable mobility outside of the pocket, too, evidenced by his collegiate 42 rushing first downs on third and fourth down. In a draft without USC quarterback Caleb Williams, he’d likely be in consideration for the first overall pick.

2024 NFL draft rankings: Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr. lead top 50 players

2024 NFL mock draft: J.J. McCarthy or Drake Maye for Patriots at No. 3?

But with Williams the consensus top pick, where will Maye go? Here’s what experts from USA Today, NFL.com, ESPN, The Ringer and The Athletic predict:

Drake Maye 2024 NFL draft predictions

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY: No. 5 to the Minnesota Vikings (via trade with the Los Angeles Chargers)

Middlehurst-Schwartz: “[Vikings] Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown coached Maye at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, and it’s easy to see why Minnesota would be excited about adding a rocket-armed signal-caller comfortable operating on the move, especially as the franchise turns the page from the Kirk Cousins era. For Maye, there might be no better situation for his development than learning under McCown and Kevin O’Connell while having Justin Jefferson on the receiving end of his deep bombs and Christian Darrisaw keeping him clean.”

Peter Schrager, NFL.com: No. 3 to the New England Patriots

Schrager: “Despite lots of smoke that New England could trade down, I believe this new Patriots regime will be comfortable with either Jayden Daniels or Maye. Pats brass took Maye out for steaks the night before his Foxborough visit earlier this month, and those guys loved the Charlotte native. That said, they also loved their top-30 visit with Daniels. I think they’re fine with whichever one falls to them.”

Field Yates, ESPN: No. 3 to the New England Patriots

Yates: “I am firmly of the belief that the Patriots should not trade down from this pick and should take a quarterback, regardless whether it is Maye or Daniels… While he had a lesser year in 2023 compared to 2022, I still see all the traits for him to be a franchise quarterback. And New England needs one after finishing 30th in yards per attempt last season (6.1). The Patriots must use the rest of this draft to surround Maye with wide receiver and offensive line help.”

Danny Heifetz, The Ringer: No. 3 to the New England Patriots

Heifetz: “With Williams and Daniels off the board, Maye falls into the Patriots’ lap. He is a prototypical NFL quarterback who doubles as a playmaker from the pocket and on the run. New England already has Jacoby Brissett on board for 2024 and can let Maye sit and learn the NFL game on the bench.”

Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic: No. 2 to the Washington Commanders

Baumgardner: “Maye is still growing as a passer, particularly in his consistency processing from the pocket. When you stack him up next to Jayden Daniels, though, Maye’s strengths are stronger and the weaknesses are similar. This will be a preference decision for Adam Peters and the Washington front office. For me, Maye is QB2.”

‘I’ve persevered through’: Once a five-star recruit, Xavier Thomas navigated depression to get back on NFL draft path

2024 NFL Draft odds: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

According to latest NFL Draft odds from BetMGM, Maye’s the favorite to be the third overall pick. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024.

Maye’s the favorite for the third overall pick (-130). He’s second in odds for the second overall pick (+175) behind LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.

When is the 2024 NFL Draft?

Where: Campus Marius Park at Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan

When: April 25-27, 2024

Cable TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network

Streaming: NFL+; ESPN+; fuboTV

How to watch: Catch the NFL Draft this year with a subscription to fuboTV

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

Source link

Click to comment

North Carolina

Report: Asheville gas prices rise, more increases expected amid war in Middle East

Published

9 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Report: Asheville gas prices rise, more increases expected amid war in Middle East

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Drivers in Asheville are paying slightly more at the pump this week, even as prices remain below where they were a year ago. Amid a rapidly escalating war in the Middle East, however, fuel prices are expected to rise even further.

Average gasoline prices in Asheville have risen 2.1 cents per gallon in the last week and are averaging $2.70 per gallon on Monday, March 2, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 259 stations in Asheville. Prices in Asheville are 2.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 10 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, per the GasBuddy report.

Neighboring areas also saw increases, according to new data. Spartanburg is averaging $2.66 per gallon, up 9.3 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.57 per gallon. Greenville is averaging $2.65 per gallon, up 8.9 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.57 per gallon.

US STOCKS SLIP, OIL PRICES LEAP WITH WORRIES THAT WAR IN MIDDLE EAST WILL WORSEN INFLATION

According to GasBuddy, gasoline prices nationwide have risen for four straight weeks.

Across the country, the national average price of gasoline has risen 5.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.94 per gallon on Monday. The national average is up 7.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and is 10.1 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data.

Diesel prices also moved higher. The national average price of diesel increased 5.4 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.740 per gallon.

“Looking ahead, markets will now begin reacting to this weekend’s U.S.–Iran attacks, which have elevated geopolitical risk premiums even in the absence of immediate supply disruption,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said via a press release. “In the week ahead, gasoline prices are likely to face heightened upward pressure as seasonal trends continue and markets navigate this evolving geopolitical landscape, with the national average poised to reach the $3-per-gallon mark for the first time this year.”

THE 2026 PRIMARY ELECTION IS ALMOST HERE. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

In Asheville, GasBuddy price reports showed the cheapest station was priced at $2.47 per gallon. Meanwhile, the most expensive station was priced at $3.09 per gallon, a difference of 62.0 cents per gallon.

GasBuddy also provided a look at gas prices in Asheville on March 2 in the past five years:

March 2, 2025: $2.80/g (U.S. Average: $3.04/g)
March 2, 2024: $3.08/g (U.S. Average: $3.34/g)
March 2, 2023: $3.14/g (U.S. Average: $3.35/g)
March 2, 2022: $3.56/g (U.S. Average: $3.69/g)
March 2, 2021: $2.56/g (U.S. Average: $2.74/g)

Source link

North Carolina

North Carolina father-to-be saved by quick-thinking pregnant wife after suffering sudden heart attack

Published

21 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

North Carolina father-to-be saved by quick-thinking pregnant wife after suffering sudden heart attack

A North Carolina man who unknowingly lived with a rare heart condition was saved by his pregnant wife after he suddenly went into cardiac arrest while lounging in bed.

Brandon Whitfield, 39, was already preparing for one drastic lifestyle change when his wife, Angela, became pregnant last spring.

Then, he suffered an unexpected heart attack when she was just nine weeks along.

“I was eating carrot cake in bed watching the hockey playoffs. And mid-conversation, I just started to slump over,” Brandon recounted to WSOC-TV.

Angela didn’t think anything of it for a few seconds, figuring Brandon might just be groggy or joking, but “jumped into action” when she realized “this was an emergency.”

Thankfully, Angela has worked as a physician assistant for more than a decade. She knew what to do instantly and, after calling 911, started to perform CPR on her prone husband.

Angela was shaken in the moments after, though, as she started to rationalize what she’d just had to do.

“You absolutely never ever think you are going to have to do CPR on your spouse,” she told the outlet.

“I thought I may be a widow,” she added.

Brandon was rushed to a nearby Novant Health medical center and, to his horror, diagnosed with a rare heart condition.

“Just because you’re young and you’re fit and you’re relatively healthy doesn’t mean that heart disease can’t happen to you,” Brandon told the outlet.

Brandon was quick to laud his wife with praise.

“It was nothing short of a miracle. Everything lined up for her to be there. It was not my time,” he said.

In the wake of his shocking diagnosis, Brandon had to adopt a Mediterranean diet and is trying to be “more mindful” about what he eats — which means no more carrot cake.

After his brush with death, the dad-to-be implored others who may be taking their lives for granted to make sure they don’t leave anything unsaid, just in case their final days are nearer than they think.

“If you can do something today, do it today. If you can tell your family you love them, do it,” he said.

Source link

North Carolina

How to buy tickets for Duke basketball vs NC State in ACC contest

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

How to buy tickets for Duke basketball vs NC State in ACC contest

It’s Duke basketball against N.C. State at the Lenovo Center on Monday, March 2.

The top-ranked Blue Devils (27-2, 15-1 ACC) and head coach Jon Scheyer are set to take on the Wolfpack (19-10, 10-6) and first year head coach Will Wade at 7 p.m. on ESPN in Raleigh.

Duke is coming off its sixth-straight win, a 77-51 rout over Virginia at Cameron Indoor Stadium. N.C. State, which has lost four of its last five, is coming off a 96-90 road loss in overtime to Notre Dame. The Blue Devils sit atop conference standings while the Wolfpack rank sixth in the league.

The Blue Devils own the all-time series against the Wolfpack 83-52 and sit at 27-27 on the road at the Lenovo Center. Duke has won six out of its last four contests against N.C. State.

Here’s how to buy tickets for Duke basketball vs. N.C. State:

Duke basketball tickets vs NC State

Duke has established a ticket waitlist program for men’s basketball games. Fans can register for the waitlist at GoDuke.com. Those on the waiting list may have the opportunity to purchase tickets, when and if tickets become available. Iron Dukes members have the first opportunity to purchase available tickets.

As for the secondary market, ticket prices for Duke’s game vs. N.C. State start at $72 on StubHub and go upwards of $712. On VividSeats, tickets range from $62-$1,156 while ranging from $63-$432 on Ticketmaster.

To see a full list of ticket prices, visit StubHub.

What time is Duke vs NC State?

Date: Monday, March 2

Time: 7 p.m. ET

The Duke basketball game vs. N.C. State game tips off at 7 p.m. ET from the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Where to watch Duke vs NC State

TV Channel: ESPN

Stream: Fubo

The Duke vs. N.C. State game will air on ESPN and can be streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Source link