North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye doesn't plan to enter the transfer portal to join another school after a breakout season in 2022.

"I really didn't have any intentions ever to leave," he told PFF's Mitch Kaiser. "I wanted to play here, and this is where I want to end up graduating."

He added, "Carolina blue means a lot to me. It means something playing for my home state."

Maye, 20, flourished in his first season as the Tar Heels' starter after Sam Howell entered the NFL draft. He passed for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns, and seven interceptions and posted a 157.91 passer rating. His 308.6 passing yards per game were the sixth most in the country.

The Manning Award finalist led the Tar Heels with 698 rushing yards and added seven scores on the ground.

The Huntersville, North Carolina, native credited his family's legacy - Maye's father and two brothers played at UNC - and head coach Mack Brown as reasons to stay at Chapel Hill.

Maye has drawn early buzz as a projected top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft alongside reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. He also shared he models his game after Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow.

Yet, Maye remains focused on leading North Carolina back to the ACC championship game in 2023 after suffering a lopsided loss to Clemson last season. The 2022 ACC Player of Year will have to make do without his top two wideouts in Josh Downs and Antoine Green, who have moved on to the NFL.

Ahead of his redshirt sophomore campaign, Maye says he feels less pressure despite the brighter spotlight and plans to take the "same approach" he did last year.