The offseason spotlight for North Carolina’s football program has centered around the return of quarterback Drake Maye, and rightfully so. Maye is among the top returning players in the country and will lead North Carolina’s offense.
But the biggest key for the Tar Heels could be on the defensive side of the football.
If North Carolina’s defense struggles, it will mean the offense needs to be even better and that’s what we saw a year ago. Returning for North Carolina are some key players at the linebacker position and they happen to be among the best in the conference as well.
Both Cedric Gray and Power Echols were named by the ACC Network as two of the top five linebackers in the conference this season. Echols checked in at No. 5 on the list while Cedric Gray was No. 3:
NC State’s Payton Wilson was No. 4 while Clemson linebacker’s Barrett Carter (No. 2), and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (No. 1) rounded out the list.
Having two players on this list is important for the Tar Heels especially when the defense needs to have a big year to help support the offense.
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