After losing five out of their top seven wide-outs to graduation or the NFL Draft, there are big shoes to fill at North Carolina.
North Carolina has always had a solid group of wide receivers year after year, but 2017 looks to have the least amount of experience at the position in the last decade.
Names like Ryan Switzer, Mack Hollins, and Bug Howard are no longer in Carolina blue. They have all moved on to live their dream of playing in the NFL and leave big shoes to fill.
Carolina also lost running backs T.J. Logan and Elijah Hood, both of whom ranked in the top seven in receiving yards and top five in receptions last year for the Tar Heels.
The only notable name that returns, is senior Austin Proehl. The Charlotte native finished with 43 receptions for 597 yards and three touchdowns last year.
So who will step up this year and has the chance to be the next big-time wide-out at UNC?
The answer is Thomas Jackson.
Jackson, a 5-foot-11 senior, finished last year with 17 receptions for 186 yards and four touchdowns.
Though he isn’t an overpowering force, he is a very solid and capable weapon on offense.
This video from last year shows the confidence the coaching staff has in him and what an asset he can become.
What he possesses, that will help this team greatly, are his routes.
Only averaging 10.4 yards per catch last year, which only beat out the running backs (min 10 receptions), he will provide a safety blanket for whichever quarterback becomes the starter.
Since there is no Mitch Trubisky under center who can sling the ball deep with ease, having a receiver to run underneath routes will help the quarterbacks develop a rhythm and confidence with easy completions.
Jackson, who is a former walk-on, will get many opportunities early on. Though he will not lead the team in yards, or even receptions, he will become a crucial part of the Tar Heels offense and step up in a big way.
