Tag: 2023 UNC Football Schedule

Social media chooses what jersey combo Tar Heels should wear in football opener

Tar Heel fans took to social media on Monday afternoon to choose which jersey combo the football team should wear in its season-opener.

Outside of their on-field offensive success and worldwide following, there’s one thing UNC athletic teams are known for – fresh jerseys.

Whether it’s because of their deal with Nike (thank you, Michael Jordan), the fact that Alexander Julian utilizes that trademark argyle design on basketball uniforms, or the endless combination of blue in several color schemes, it’s tough not to watch the Heels play and say “wow, I wish I could wear a jersey like that.”

The talk of Chapel Hill right now is football. Carolina brings back the country’s best quarterback in Drake Maye, who is a Heisman Trophy contender and projected top overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft, one of the country’s most talented linebackers in Cedric Gray, a running back room full of returners and, of course, head coach Mack Brown.

UNC bolted off to a 9-1 start last year, then a loss to Georgia Tech spurred a streak of four straight. Carolina went from College Football Playoff hopeful to just a bowl game participant, in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

The Heels have a golden chance this year to show the college football world they are back and better than ever. They’ll kick off 2023 on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Bank of America Stadium against neighboring rival South Carolina, who’s had the real Carolina’s number in recent years (38-21 South Carolina win in 2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl).

One burning question before that matchup: which jerseys should the Heels don? An all-blue combo, blue-top and white-bottom, white-top and blue-bottom, or all-white?

Let’s take to social media and see which come UNC fans voted on:

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Why are Corey Gaynor, Kobe Paysour and Gio Biggers so crucial to UNC football’s success?

UNC football players Corey Gaynor, Kobe Paysour and Gio Biggers are all team veterans. They’ll be counted on for success this year.

The UNC football team is entering its second week of Fall camp, putting it one week closer to its Saturday, Sept. 2 season-opener against the University of South Carolina in Bank of America Stadium.

Players show coaches why they are deserving of starting spots, while others might be fighting just to make the roster. We know a couple of offseason storylines already – Drake Maye is the best quarterback in the country and should be a Top-5 pick in next year’s NFL Draft, Bryson Nesbit and Kamari Morales return one of the country’s top tight end duos, Cedric Gray is one of the most talented linebackers in the game and there are sky-high expectations for the team.

Let’s take a look, though, at some under-the-radar guys who are going to be key parts of UNC this Fall.

Corey Gaynor, who will turn 25 next week, is playing in his seventh college football season because of past injuries and his COVID year. He’ll be entering his second campaign in Chapel Hill after spending his first five years at University of Miami (Fla.).

Gaynor started all 14 games at center last year, earning Honorable Mention All-ACC and team captain honors. He played 1,050 snaps and allowed just two sacks.

Gaynor told TarHeelIllustrated why he chooses to still play college football, even at his older age:

“A lot of people think different reasons why you play football and you come back when you’re as old as I am, (but) I want to pass on my knowledge and make sure that my teammates – my younger guys – are getting every resource possible out of me,” Gaynor said in an interview with TarHeelIllustrated’s Andrew Jones.

It’s almost a given that wide receiver Kobe Paysour will be leaned on heavily this year for offensive production, as the Heels lost Josh Downs and Antoine Green to the NFL Draft. Paysour started 4/12 games last season, tying for fourth on UNC in receptions (29) and finishing sixth in receiving yards (324), while adding four touchdowns.

Paysour will likely be Carolina’s number three wideout, as head coach Mack Brown brought in Kent State’s Devontez Walker (58 receptions, 921 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns) and Georgia Tech’s Nate McCollum (60 receptions, 655 receiving yards, three touchdowns) from the transfer portal.

Hear what Paysour had to say about competing for playing time with his new teammates:

“I seen it as a competitive thing, a competitive spirit,” Paysour told TarHeelIllustrated. “Just like any offensive coach, they’re going to try to get somebody that’s better than you. You feel me? They’re going to try to recruit somebody that’s better than you. So, I just see it as a competitive spirit. I’m always going hard every day.”

Giovanni “Gio” Biggers started all 14 games at defensive back for the Heels last year. He was one of the unit’s more productive players, registering 69 tackles (one for loss), two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Biggers’ most productive game came in the 63-61 thriller over App State, as he recorded 10 tackles.

Biggers goes by Gio to everyone expect for his loved ones, who call him Giovanni.

“Miss Sally, my mom and my girlfriend call me Giovanni,” Biggers told TarHeelIllustrated.”

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Backfield consistency, strong passing game needed for Tar Heel football to succeed in 2023

UNC football head coach Mack Brown highlighted how the key to his team’s success this fall is a strong passing game and consistent run game.

The UNC football team last year, as they’ve done so well recently, boasted one of the country’s top offenses.

Carolina ranked 12th among FBS schools in total yards (6,479) and 19th in yards per game (462.8). Drake Maye led the ACC and finished fourth in the FBS with 4,321 passing yards, plus he led all Carolina rushers with 932 yards.

Elijah Green led all UNC running backs with 558 net rushing yards and eight touchdowns. This is drastic in comparison to the previous three season, when Carolina had a 1,000-yard rusher in each (Michael Carter, Javonte Williams, Ty Chandler)

According to head coach Mack Brown, the Heels will need to continue their strong passing attack and find some more consistency from the running back room if they want to find 2023 success.

“The running game is our quarterback’s best friend with pass protection,” Brown told The Daily Tar Heel. “Chip had been involved with Gus Malzahn at Auburn and Central Florida, where they run the ball so well. I think you’ll see us much better on offense in the running game, very similar to what we’ve been in the passing game.”

Maye has a golden opportunity to find chemistry with a brand-new wide receiving corps. His new starting receivers include two transfers, Devontez Walker (Kent State) and Nate McCollum (Georgia Tech), plus returner J.J. Jones (434 yards, two touchdowns).

The running back room starts this year entirely healthy – Daily Tar heel highlighted how last season, British Brooks and Caleb Hood suffered season-ending injuries. With those two, Elijah Green and Omarion Hampton all returning, UNC could, once again, have a vaunted ground game.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

UNC Football’s all-time record vs. 2023 opponents

Fans can get a look at UNC’s matchup history against its 2023 opponents, starting with Week One opponent South Carolina.

August is finally here.

For college football fans, that means the official season start.

While the large slate of games doesn’t kick off until Labor Day weekend, a few teams will play in “Week Zero,” highlighted by the Navy-Notre Dame clash in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 2:30 p.m.

Your Tar Heels start their quest for a national championship on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Charlotte, as they take on neighboring rival South Carolina within Bank of America Stadium.

The real Carolina has a couple of long-standing clashes with opponents during 2023, yet the boys in baby blue are also playing two teams for the first time ever.

Let’s take a look at UNC’s all-time record vs. this year’s opponents:

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Don Chapman Jr. shows off hops at UNC football practice

Defensive back Don Chapman Jr., who played in 11 games for the UNC football team in 2022, makes a highlight-reel interception in practice.

Practices are underway and players are feeling adrenaline rushes across the country – college football season is here.

UNC is hoping to start strong but, unlike last year, finish on a positive note as well. The Heels bursted out to 9-1 with a record-setting win over App State, a closing-second comeback win over Duke and a stomping of Virginia Tech, a team which always seems to have UNC’s number.

Despite having one of college football’s best linebackers in Cedric Gray, Carolina’s defense ranked near the FBS basement. Tar Heel opponents scored at least 28 points in all but five games against them. UNC allowed 5,697 yards (6th-most).

This year, the Heels already appear to have another stud on defense, as Don Chapman has been showing off in practice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvfjt8cNAzI/

In this clip, Chapman makes a leaping grab, jukes out his pursuer and races to the endzone.

Carolina will certainly welcome ball hawks to the team, as no player had more than three interceptions in 2022 (Storm Duck). Gray finished second with two interceptions, while Power Echols, DeAndre Boykins, Cam’Ron Kelly and Will Hardy each picked off one pass.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions!

Tar Heels football hoping for a stronger finish in 2023

UNC football head coach Mack Brown and star linebacker Cedric Gray are confident defense will lead the Heels to a better finish this year.

The University of North Carolina football team looked like it was going to be the team to finally take down Clemson last year, as it started 9-1 with a slew of impressive wins.

Drake Maye was playing like the best quarterback in the country, putting himself in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Josh Downs and Antoine Green looked like the best wide receiver duo in college football. The defense, though it wasn’t great, played well enough to help Carolina close out games.

A gut-wrenching loss to Georgia Tech changed everything. UNC lost four consecutive matchups, including 28-27 Holiday Bowl thriller to Oregon.

Despite the disappointing end to 2022, head coach Mack Brown is confident about his Heels heading into the Fall. Last week, Brown spoke with Chapelboro’s Michael Koh about the 2023 outlook.

“I think we’re gonna be good on defense,” Brown told Koh. “[Defensive coordinator Gene] Chizik’s got another year under his belt, the staff will be good together and I feel like we’ll be good. We’ll get tested early. We’ve got a really tough schedule to start the season (South Carolina, App State, Minnesota). So it’ll be a great four games to start out, to see if we’ve improved like we think we have on defense.”

The article highlights Cedric Gray as a key to the Heels’ success. Gray led the ACC and finished third in the FBS with 144 tackles.

Defense is UNC’s greatest weakness, with the Heels allowing the sixth-most yards (5,697) to opponents in 2022. Gray thinks that will be a massive area of improvement:

“It definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth when people talk about our team and how bad of a defense we’ve been at times,” Gray said. “Especially being the leader of the defense, I take that personally. I think now that we’ve got a year under our belt with Coach Chizik and this new defense, I think you’re gonna see a defense that’s a lot more comfortable and confident in what we’re doing.”

Carolina and its defense will be tasked with slowing Spencer Rattler, the number one quarterback recruit in the 2019 class, during Week 1 against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Bank of America Stadium.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Rucker’s dedication to community lands him on Good Works Team

UNC jack linebacker Kaimon Rucker was recently nominated for Allstate’s AFCA Good Works team, given to someone who serves the community.

Kaimon Rucker is expected to be another leader on the Tar Heel football squad’s defense this season.

Carolina’s “jack” linebacker, who primarily rushes the passer but can also drop back in coverage when needed, enters year four in Chapel Hill. He’s started 15/37 games over his first three collegiate seasons, recording a 37-tackle (seven for loss), 3.5-sack, 8-pressure, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup last year.

Not only is Rucker a talented football player, he’s also quite the gentlemen off the field.

On Wednesday, July 12, Rucker was nominated for Allstate’s AFCA Good Works Team. According to GoHeels.com, this award is given to someone who is both a talented student-athlete and shows dedication to their respective community.

If Rucker is selected as a winner, he will join 10 other FBS players, 11 players from Division I, II, III and NAIA, plus one head coach.

Rucker’s spent time in Chapel Hill with multiple charitable causes. According to GoHeels.com, he spoke at UNC’s Mental Health Symposium, participated in the Extra Yard for Teachers, UNC Children’s Hospital visits, the Boomerang after school program, elementary school field days, youth football camps and various other charitable activities.

While there’s a little over a month until Rucker and the Gridiron Heels kick off 2023 in Bank of America Stadium against South Carolina (Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC), it’s nice to see players – who we only physically see on gamedays – get recognized for their off-the-field work.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Where will UNC football finish in a stacked ACC during 2023?

Even with Heisman candidate Drake Maye returning, the University of North Carolina football team is picked to finish third in the ACC.

Heisman Trophy candidate and 2022 ACC Player of the Year Drake Maye returns, for what is likely his final season in Carolina Blue. Bryson Nesbit and Kamari Morales return one of the best 1-2 tight end punches in college football. Cedric Gray is an under-the-radar, 2024 NFL Draft prospect.

All are signs pointing to 2023 being a solid season for the University of North Carolina football team.

That’s what we all thought about last year, too, which started great then fell off a cliff with four consecutive losses.

Just over a month away from the season opener against neighboring rival University of South Carolina (Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Bank of America Stadium), where does UNC stand to finish in the ACC?

According to NC Football News, the Heels will end the year in third place, behind Florida State and – you guessed it – Clemson.

Carolina is picked to finish third, mostly, because of Maye. They have a new receiving corps, but a solid offensive line. Any success, however, will come from the defense holding up its end of the bargain.

Here’s what Lindy’s Sports had to say about UNC’s chances:

“Good enough to threaten for the ACC title game; not good enough to play in the title game.”

Here’s what sportswriter and college football analyst Phil Steele thinks of UNC’s chances:

“Maye headlines 17 returning starters, and they avoid Florida State in ACC play. They do face both Pitt and Clemson on the road but have a solid shot at the ACC title game.”

Carolina did a solid job of winning the games it was supposed to last season (Florida A&M, Georgia State, Virginia Tech, UVA, Duke) despite all of them being close at some point. If UNC wants a shot at the title game this year, it’ll have to finish top two in the ACC, as the conference is doing away with divisions. The Heels start ACC play on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Pitt, then host Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 7.

Each of UNC’s first 10 games – even with a neutral-site clash against South Carolina and road tilt with Pitt, are all winnable. That puts them at possibly 10-0 heading in Clemson’s Death Valley on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Drake Maye highlights Preseason All-ACC First Team

UNC quarterback Drake Maye highlights Pro Football Focus’ Preseason All-ACC Team. He’s projected to be the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

There’s a lot of hype around UNC quarterback Drake Maye ahead of the 2023 college football season, which starts next month with the Navy-Notre Dame “Week 0” matchup in Dublin, Ireland.

That hype around Maye is understandably so. The sophomore from Huntersville, N.C. finished fourth in passing yards (4,321) among all FBS schools, led the Heels in rushing yards (937) and, despite a horrendous defense, anchored Carolina to its first ACC Championship Game appearance since 2015.

This was all good enough for Maye to earn ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-ACC Honors.

Add one more honor to Maye’s impressive resume – Pro Football Focus’ Preseason All-ACC Team.

Maye is one of just two Tar Heels on the first team, joining top tight end Bryson Nesbit. who is UNC’s leading returning receiver with 507 receiving yards and four scores in 2022.

Outside of Nesbit, a majority of Carolina’s offense is unproven. The Heels lost Josh Downs and Antoine Green to the NFL Draft. Last year was the first time UNC didn’t have a 1,000-yard rusher since 2018. Carolina’s leading returning wide receiver, J.J. Jones, collected just 434 yards and two touchdowns.

This season will be extra-important for Maye because he doesn’t have the Heels’ 2022 weapons at his disposal, plus he’ll be trying to prove he’s the best quarterback in the country and worthy of the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Some of the best professional quarterbacks made names for themselves, in part, without a loaded wide receiving corps (look at Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers).

Will Maye be able to do what all collegiate quarterbacks dream of – winning a CFP National Championship?

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Will UNC quarterback Drake Maye win the Heisman? Depends on wins

Drake Maye is one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Winning a Heisman Trophy however, depends on UNC’s team performance.

Drake Maye, the main player behind UNC football’s sudden ascension toward the top of ACC, is one of the best quarterbacks in college football.

Maye played himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation last year, leading the ACC and finishing fourth in the country with 4,321 passing yards. He tossed 38 touchdowns to just seven interceptions, completed 66.7% of his passes and racked up a 157.9 quarterback rating.

Maye also had the help of wide receivers Josh Downs and Antoine Green, who are now on NFL rosters.

The Tar Heels’ quarterback tortured opposing defenses with his rocket arm and showcased his ability to evade tacklers on the ground. Maye actually led UNC with 698 rushing yards and finished second with seven rushing touchdowns.

Could Maye find himself back into Heisman Trophy contention this year and possibly win the award?

According to 247Sports, it will be tough because UNC is not a nationally-relevant, championship-caliber program.

UNC will have a golden chance to prove itself in Week One against an SEC school, facing neighboring rival South Carolina, in Charlotte, on Sept. 2 in a rematch of the 2021 season-opener. The Heels turn around and host App State in a rematch of last year’s thrilling, 63-61 victory in Boone, then host Minnesota on Sept. 16 in an ACC-Big 10 clash, before jumping into ACC play at the University of Pittsburgh on Sept. 23.

Carolina’s conference slate also includes Syracuse, Miami (FL), UVA, Georgia Tech, Duke, and the final two regular-season games – at Clemson and N.C. State – that could make-or-break Maye’s Heisman chances and determine whether the boys in baby blue will be CFP bound.

At one point last season, Carolina was sitting on the outside window of College Football Playoff contention, finding itself ranked 13th in mid-November after a comeback win against Wake Forest. Carolina was, at least for one season, becoming a nationally-relevant program. Then, the Heels lost their final four games, including the ACC Championship against Clemson.

Maye doesn’t have Downs and Green, but he does have the luxury of two reliable tight ends in Bryson Nesbit and Kamari Morales (856 yards, eight touchdowns in 2022). He’ll likely continue using his legs to sprint past the opposition when a passing play breaks down.

If Maye wants to win Heisman, he’ll have to play like he did through the first 10 games of 2022, connect with his young receiving corps and hope his defense can hold up its end of the bargain.