While Drake Maye and North Carolina’s passing game had a historic 2022 season in Chapel Hill, getting that run game going in 2023 could help out the quarterback even more as we approach the start of the new season.
UNC saw a few different backs get action in the backfield but it was Elijah Green that ended up finishing second to Maye in rushing attempts and yards for the Tar Heels. Green had a good sophomore season for the Tar Heels, appearing in 14 games and starting the final 5.
But where does Green rank among ACC running backs going into 2023?
College Sports Wire ranked the starting running backs in the ACC and checking in at No. 5 was Green:
Green finished second in rushing attempts and yards last season to quarterback Drake Maye, however he was No. 1 in rushing touchdowns. The second leading rusher among running backs, Omarion Hampton, also returns for the 2023 campaign giving them a nice one-two punch at running back.
As UNC will welcome back Green, Omarion Hampton, and George Pettaway plus Caleb Hood and British Brooks also coming back from injuries, it will be another crowded backfield for UNC.
It’s hard to say who will get the brunt of the workload for UNC in 2023 and Mack Brown’s offense could decide to go with that committee approach again, which is the likely scenario. But the positive note in all of that is UNC will have another good backfield to hopefully make life easier for Maye and more difficult for opposing defenses.
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