Tar Heels quarterback Nathan Elliott will make his first collegiate start Saturday against the Wofford Terriers, but Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora said that senior starting quarterback Nathan Howell will be ready for the opener.
Howell suffered a concussion against Vanderbilt on Sept. 15. The Tar Heels lost the contest that game, 36-28.
Elliott started seven games at quarterback for UNC in 2017 and led the Tar Heels to the ACC Championship Game, a 41-16 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies.
UNC’s start to the 2018 season didn’t go as planned, with the Tar Heels losing to Oklahoma in the season opener and Florida State on the road. They then dropped a close home game against N.C. State, which provided UNC an open berth to the ACC Championship Game.
Elliott threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another, including a 1-yard TD run, to defeat Virginia Tech last season in the title game. He also had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
For his career, Howell has completed 49 of 85 passes for 772 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions. He also has rushed for 385 yards and eight scores on 83 carries.
Elliott was the No. 4-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2019 Class as a senior at St. Augustine Academy in Charlotte.