Drake Maye, selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has emerged as a key player for the New England Patriots. In his second season, he significantly improved his performance, contributing to the team’s successful journey to Super Bowl LX, held in February 2026.
Maye’s football story started years before he arrived in the NFL. He played high school football in North Carolina, became a star at the University of North Carolina and comes from a family filled with college athletes.
Drake Maye college football team
He became a standout quarterback at Myers Park, passing for 6,713 yards and 86 touchdowns over two seasons. He also helped the team finish 12-1, win a league title and reach the third round of the state playoffs. His best college season came in 2022. He started all 14 games, throwing for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns while adding 698 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. In 2023, Maye passed for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns in 12 starts. He entered the 2024 NFL Draft after two seasons at UNC and was selected No. 3 overall by the Patriots. The Patriots reached Super Bowl LX in February 2026, where they lost 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks. Maye finished the game with 295 passing yards and two touchdowns.
His performances made him one of the country’s top quarterback recruits. He was named ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year.
