 Howell entered his true freshman season at North Carolina in 2019 as the starting quarterback, and became the first true freshman to start a season-opening game for the Tar Heels.In his first career game against South Carolina, he passed for 245 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over the Gamecocks.Against NC State, Howell threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns in a 41–10 defeat of the Wolfpack.