North Carolina Football Season Preview

There is only one way to classify this upcoming season for North Carolina-? (Take this and upsize it by 1000). It’s one huge question mark thanks to NCAA infractions. Some players were allegedly given trips by an agent, and some academic infractions. Some players may be suspended, and some players may just get kicked off the team. And this puts a damper on a team that arguably has the best defense in the country, and a lot of those players may not even play for a few games, if at all.

 

Quarterback has not been a position of strength for UNC the past few years. And it’s mostly because the other options just aren’t any better. TJ Yates has been very mediocre, yet somehow he’s second in school history in passing yards. Last season, Yates threw for 2136 yards, but had a 14-15 touchdown-interception ratio. The interceptions have been what maddened Tar Heel fans everywhere. But he has some competition this year in freshman Bryn Renner. Renner figures to get some playing time anyways, but if Yates falters, Renner could take over the starting job.

UNC has always been known for having a strong running game. And this year is no exception. They have a speed back in Shaun Draughn who had a solid junior campaign going until a wrist injury very early in the Duke game cost him most of the second half of the season. Draughn ran for 567 yards last season, but only one rushing touchdown, and that’s mostly because of how the running backs are used in the red zone. The other running back, Ryan Houston, is more of a bruiser at 245 pounds, and is used a lot more in short yardage situations. Houston ran for 713 yards and nine rushing touchdowns last season. Expect Draughn to be the starter, but also expect Houston to see plenty of time as well.

The receiving corps came in last year a little inexperienced, but they proved to be pretty big. Greg Little had a breakout season last year, catching 62 balls for 724 yards and five touchdowns. Unfortunately, Little’s name has been linked in the UNC football scandal, and his playing status is up in the air at this point. Should Little miss time, Erik Highsmith will be the go to guy. As a freshman, Highsmith caught 37 passes for 425 yards. Jheranie Boyd is also a deep threat. He only caught 12 passes, but four of them went for touchdowns. At tight end, Zack Pianalto has proved to be a reliable target. Pianalto caught 33 passes for 334 yards last season.

What makes the running game effective for UNC is a good offensive line. And it is a pretty big offensive line, with four of the five starters listed over 300 pounds, and the other listed at 295 pounds, which is center Jonathan Cooper, who started nine games at guard last season. Guard Alan Pelc started every game last year, and the other guard, Travis Bond, only started one. Tackle Mike Ingersoll started all but one game last year, and he will be joined by junior Carl Gaskins, who missed last season after tearing his ACL.

 

You can argue this is the best defense not only in the ACC, but the entire country. Nine starters return from a defense that finished sixth in total defense, and features six players who made either first or second team All ACC. And it starts on the defensive line, which is the only part of the defense that is not returning all of the starters. Robert Quinn made first team All ACC after an 11 sack season. Quinn had 19 tackles for loss last season. Quinton Coples will start at the other defensive end spot. Coples had five sacks last season. At defensive tackle, Tydreke Powell is a new starter. Powell had 24 tackles and two sacks last year. Marvin Austin has been a big name for UNC, and not necessarily in a good way. Austin made second team All ACC with a 42 tackle, four sack season. But Austin has been the centerpiece of the UNC football scandal, as his name first surface after accepting benefits from an agent. His playing status is up in the air still at this point.

The linebackers aren’t as flashy as the rest of the defense, but it is still very good. The big name of the linebacking corps is Quan Sturdivant. Sturdivant was the leading tackler for UNC with 79, and also had 12 tackles for loss, and made first team All ACC. He is joined also on the outside by Bruce Carter, who was third on the team in tackles with 65. In the middle is Kevin Reddick, who is the only starter not a junior or senior. The sophomore started seven games and had 45 tackles last season.

The pass defense was the weakest point of the defense, at least on paper. It ranked third in the ACC against the pass, but it ranked 14^th in the country, so it’s really not that much of a weakness. The secondary features four senior starters, led by cornerback Kendrick Burney, who made first team All ACC after a 52 tackle, five interception season. He is joined by Charles Brown, who was second on the team in tackles with 66, led the team in pass breakups with nine, and had three interceptions. At safety, Deunta Williams stands out. Williams led the team in interceptions with six, and also broke up eight passes, and had 47 tackles. At strong safety, Da’Norris Searcy earned second team All ACC honors last season. Searcy had 35 tackles last season.

 

The name Barth and kicking at North Carolina have proved to be a good combination over the past few years. Connor Barth was a dependable kicker in his years with the Heels, and his brother Casey has continued that tradition. Casey was 21-25 on field goals, but only had a long of 42. At punter is Grant Shallock, who punted 65 times and averaged 40.3 yards per punt. The return game is good as well, as De’Norris Searcy had a punt return for touchdown while averaging 14.6 yards per return. Johnny White is back as kick returner. White had a disappointing season as returner, only averaging 20.5 yards per return.

 

The schedule is pretty challenging throughout. It all begins with a neutral site game against LSU, followed by a home game against Georgia Tech, and a road game against Rutgers. The toughest road games are at Miami on October 23, and at Florida State November 6. UNC does host Virginia Tech November 13.

 

This isn’t a great offense to look at when it comes to fantasy options, but the best option would be wide receiver Greg Little, assuming he is cleared to play. Little emerged last season as a go to guy for TJ Yates, and figures to be the go to guy again. A good option as well is taking UNC’s defense, which as I said earlier, is arguably the best in the country.

 

This defense could carry this team a long way. It is that good. But the question is how many starters will be on the field opening night because of the scandal that’s fallen upon the school. If the scandal didn’t exist, I would have made UNC my pick to win the ACC Coastal. But I can’t predict how this scandal is going to affect the team, and I know it is going to have an affect on how this team performs. If the repercussions end up in the team’s favor, then they will still be in the mix to win the Coastal. But with this still looming, and some sort of suspensions coming, I don’t expect them to win the Coastal this year, but they will still be a bowl team.