(RB Omarion Hampton – Inside Carolina)
Key Players Returning:
RB Omarion Hampton, WR JJ Jones, WR Nate McCollum, OG Willie Lampkin, DE Beau Atkinson, DE Desmond Evans, DT Jahvaree Ritzie, NT Kevin Hester Jr., LB Power Echols, CB Marcus Allen, CB/PR Alijah Huzzie, NB DeAndre Boykins, PK Noah Burnette, and PT Tom Maginness.
Key Players Departing:
QB Drake Maye (Patriots R1), WR Bryson Nesbit, WR Devontez Walker (Ravens R4), OC Corey Gaynor, OG Chance Carroll (Georgia Southern transfer), OT Diego Pounds (Ole Miss transfer), OT Deems May, DE Kaimon Rucker, DT Myles Murphy, LB Cedric Gray (Titans R4), FS Giovanni Biggers, FS Antavious Lane, and BS Don Chapman.
(WR Jordan Shipp – Inside Carolina)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Jordan Shipp (Charlotte, North Carolina), ATH Jaiden Patterson (Hoschton, Georgia), TE Jake Johnson (Texas A&M transfer), DS Malcolm Ziglar (Fuquay Varina, North Carolina), and OT Anrew Rosinski (Canton, Georgia).
3 Star Recruits: WR Alex Taylor (Greensboro, North Carolina), WR Javarius Green (Shelby, North Carolina), DS Jakeen Harris (NC State transfer), and RB Davion Gause (Hollywood, Florida).
2023 Results:
G01 vs. South Carolina W 31-17
G02 APPALCHIAN STATE W (2OT) 40-34
G03 MINNESOTA W 31-13
G04 @ PITT W 41-24
G05 SYRACUSE W 40-7
G06 #25 MIAMI W 41-31
G07 VIRGINIA L 27-31
G08 @ Georgia Tech L 42-46
G09 CAMPBELL W 59-7
G10 DUKE W (2OT) 47-45
G11 @ Clemson L 20-31
G12 @ #22 NC State L 20-39
BOWL vs. West Virginia L 10-30
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 8-5 (7th in ACC)
Home: 6-1
Away: 1-3
Neutral: 1-1|
ACC: 4-4
Non-AAC: 4-1
Head Coach: Mack Brown
North Carolina: 107-73-1
Career: 282-149-1
Bowls: 14-12
(WR JJ Jones – Inside Carolina)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Conner Harrell (22-33, 278 yards, 66.7%, 8.4 avg., 2 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: Omarion Hampton (253 car., 1504 yards, 5.9 avg., 15 TD)
Receiving: JJ Jones (46 rec., 711 yards, 15.5 avg., 3 TD)
TDs Scored: Omarion Hampton (16)
Sacks: Beau Atkinson (3.5)
Tackles: Power Echols (103)
Tackles For Loss: Kaimon Rucker (15)
Interceptions: Alijah Huzzie (3)
Pass Deflections: Marcus Allen (8)
Forced Fumbles: Power Echols (2)
Kick Returns: Chris Culliver (5 ret., 105 yards, 21.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Alijah Huzzie (7 ret., 112 yards, 16.0 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Noah Burnette (19-20 fg/fga., 95%, 43-43 xp/xpa., 100 pts.)
Punting: Tom Maginness (33 punt, 1313 yards, 39.8 avg., 13 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 14 Max Johnson (GR/TR)
RB: 28 Omarion Hampton (JR)
WR: 5 JJ Jones (SR)
WR: 2 Gavin Blackwell (RS JR)
WR: 6 Nate McCollum (SR/TR)
TE: 81 John Copenhaver (GR)
LT: 76 Howard Sampson (RS SO/TR)
LG: 52 Jonathan Adomo (SR)
OC: 58 Austin Blaske (GR/TR)
RG: 53 Willie Lampkin (SR/TR)
RT: 78 Trevyon Green (RS SO)
KR: 3 Chris Culliver (SO)
PK: 98 Noah Burnette (RS SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 10 Desmond Evans (SR)
NT: 98 Kevin Hester Jr. (GR)
DT: 6 Joshua Harris (GR/TR)
DE: 7 Kaimon Rucker (SR)
LB: 23 Power Echols (SR)
LB: 17 Amare Campbell (SO)
NB: 16 DeAndre Boykins (RS JR)
CB: 28 Alijah Huzzie (RS SR/TR)
CB: 29 Marcus Allen (JR)
FS: 2 Jakeen Harris (GR/TR)
BS: 1 Antavious Lane (JR)
PR: 28 Alijah Huzzie (SR/TR)
PT: 96 Tom Maginness (JR/TR)
(LB Power Echols – Inside Carolina)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/29 @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | Last season’s 31-13 win was the first meeting between schools.
09/07 CHARLOTTE 49ERS | First meeting between schools.
09/14 NC CENTRAL EAGLES | Firs meeting between schools.
09/21 JAMES MADISON DUKES | UNC leads the series 3-0. The Tar Heels won (37-14) the last meeting between schools in 2007.
09/28 @ Duke Blue Devils | UNC leads the series 64-41-4. The Tar Heels are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (35-42) was in 2018.
10/05 PITT PANTHERS | UNC leads the series 12-5. The Tar Heels are 7-2 since 2014, and their last series win (42-24) was in 2021.
10/12 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS | UNC trails the series 21-33-3. The Tar Heels are 4-5 since 2014, and their last series win (38-22) was in 2019.
10/26 @ Virginia Cavaliers | UNC leads the series 66-59-4. The Tar Heels are 5-5 since 2014, and their last series win (31-28) was in 2022.
11/02 @ FSU Seminoles | UNC trails the series 3-17-1. The Tar Heels lost (25-35) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/16 WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS | UNC leads the series 72-36-2. The Tar Heels won (36-34) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/23 @ Boston College Eagles | UNC leads the series 4-2. The Tar Heels won (26-22) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/30 NC STATE WOLFPACK | UNC trails the series 21-33-3. The Tar Heels are 4-5 since 2014, and their last series win (38-22) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 5-2
Road: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 3-5
Non-ACC: 3-1
Overall: 6-6 (13th in ACC)
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