After just one game into the 2024 college football season, the North Carolina Tar Heels showed a marked defensive improvement from 2023.
Opponents averaged 405.4 yards per game against UNC last year. North Carolina nearly halved that figure in its season-opening, 19-17 win over Minnesota, limiting the Golden Gophers to just 244 yards.
Star edge rusher Kaimon Rucker, who recorded four solo tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack, credited defensive coordinator Geoff Collins for the defensive improvements.
A major reason behind those improvements was Collins’ ability to rotate players in and out of the game, something Gene Chizik didn’t do a ton of the past two seasons.
“I felt like it just allowed us to get more guys on the field, and for the guys that we needed in crucial situations, allowed them to be rested up and ready to go,” Rucker told InsideCarolina’s Jeremiah Holloway. “I know in the past, we would not substitute like that. And so a lot of guys would get tired when we needed them the most and stuff like that. And I know Coach Collins understood that was an issue in the past, and Coach (Mack) Brown knows that was an issue in the past, and for us to rotate around 20 guys, man, that’s something that we’ve been preaching for years that we need to do a better job of. And I feel like we finally are starting to do that a lot more.”
Just about every Tar Heel contributed on defense in the Week 1 win.. Defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie led UNC with three sacks and tackles for loss apiece. NC State transfer Jakeen Harris thrived from his starting safety spot, leading North Carolina with ten tackles.
Can the Tar Heels’ defense deliver another strong performance in their home opener against Charlotte?
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