Tag: 2024 UNC Football Season

Incoming UNC wide receiver Jordan Shipp named a Top-100 impact freshman from 2024

A big part of UNC’s offense in the upcoming football season could be one of its incoming freshman wide receivers.

There’s no secret the 2024 college football season is going to look a little different in Chapel Hill.

Drake Maye won’t be slinging the football, Devontez Walker won’t be catching passes and Cedric Gray won’t be leading the linebacking corps

Highlighted by Walker’s departure to the NFL, UNC’s wide receiver group will be in search of a new Number One guy. J.J. Jones (711) led the Tar Heels in receiving yards last season, while Nate McCollum (469) showed flashes of brilliance before Walker gained eligibility.

North Carolina has a couple of talented, incoming freshman receivers in Alex Taylor and Jordan Shipp, who are expected to be major parts of the offense.

It’s Shipp, in particular, whom the media is looking at as a Day One contributor.

Shipp, a 3-time state champion at Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC, was recently named a Top-100 Impact True Freshman by 247Sports.

“The Tar Heels exited spring without a proven No. 1 receiver on their roster. There are options to fill that gap, but no real established pecking order with Tez Walker’s absence. That gives Shipp an opportunity to make a Day 1 impact. UNC’s highest-ranked signee in the 2024 class, Shipp entered college as a sound route runner – a skill he’s so good in that it offset sub-par measurables, as far as top-100 prospects go — and showcased that ability during spring ball.”

Shipp’s high school production was a major reason behind Providence Day’s three titles, as he caught 173 passes for 2,934 yards and 37 touchdowns. He’ll look to be a top target for UNC’s starting quarterback, which will come down to either Jacoby Criswell, Conner Harrell and Max Johnson.

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Several UNC football players tabbed Preseason All-American and All-ACC

The North Carolina Tar Heels could surprise some people on the gridiron this coming season.

Roster-wise, the 2024 UNC football season is going to look significantly different.

Gone are 2023 stars Drake Maye, Devontez Walker and Cedric Gray to the NFL. North Carolina will have a new starting quarterback for the first time in three years, a decision that has yet to be made between Jacolby Criswell, Max Johnson and Conner Harrell, while there isn’t a ton of experience in the wide receiver room behind J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum.

The Tar Heels return plenty of stars, though, headlined by running back Omarion Hampton and jack linebacker Kaimon Rucker. Whichever QB wins the starting job should take advantage of UNC’s deep tight end room, including Bryson Nesbit, John Copenhaver and Texas A&M transfer Jake Johnson.

Just over two months away from North Carolina’s season-opener – Thursday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. ET in a rematch with Minnesota – several Tar Heels made college football analyst Phil Steele’s Preseason All-American and All-ACC teams.

Hampton, a Preseason First Team All-American and All-ACC honoree, led the ACC and finished fifth in the country with 1,504 rushing yards last year.

Rucker, a Preseason First Team All-ACC and Fourth Team All-American honoree, led the Tar Heels with 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks last season. Nesbit, also a Preseason First Team All-ACC and Fourth Team All-American, paced UNC’s tight end room with 585 receiving yards and finished second overall with five touchdowns.

Alijah Huzzie, a Preseason First Team All-ACC honoree, led North Carolina with three interceptions last year. He also had the Tar Heels’ lone return touchdown.

Power Echols, a 2023 starting linebacker who formed a formidable 1-2 tandem with Gray, recorded 102 tackles last season. That is most amongst returners.

Willie Lampkin, who rounds out the Preseason honors with his Third Team All-ACC Honors, started all 11 games he appeared in last year on the Tar Heels’ offensive line.

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North Carolina’s quarterback room ranked amongst Top 10 tiers entering 2024 season

The 2024 UNC quarterback room is ranked higher than you might think.

Knowing that 2022 ACC Player of the Year Drake Maye was returning last season, the UNC football team didn’t have to stress about its quarterback situation.

With Drake Maye now in the NFL, looking to become the next great New England Patriots quarterback, North Carolina goes back to the drawing board under center. The Tar Heels return star running back Omarion Hampton and a deep tight end room, led by Bryson Nesbit, but carry a new group of wide receivers besides J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum.

UNC doesn’t have the luxury of knowing its starting quarterback this season, but it does have the luxury of three starting-caliber quarterbacks to choose from.

Duke’s Mayo Bowl starter Conner Harrell, Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson and Jacolby Criswell, who began his career in Chapel Hill, transferred back after a season at Arkansas.

With these three guys in the room, ESPN ranked North Carolina’s quarterback situation in its eighth tier (of 20) entering the fall.

Check out what ESPN has to say about Johnson regarding his Tier 8 spot:

“It’s UNC’s (Max) Johnson who no one seems to be overly excited about,” David Hale wrote. “Perhaps it’s that he has been stuck on two different SEC teams whose coaches ultimately got fired. Regardless, he has been pretty solid, if never entirely thrilling. He’s basically the Big Boi of college football — around forever, part of some big brands, always overshadowed and undervalued.”

I know the Tar Heels aren’t expected to do a ton this coming season, but they have a lot of unproven talent. That begins in the quarterback room, where either Harrell, Johnson or Criswell could start from Day One.

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Which returning UNC offensive lineman is amongst the ACC’s best?

Just how good is UNC offensive lineman Willie Lampkin?

Summer is about to start and – in two months – so will college football.

Michigan will try and defend its National Championship, but that won’t be easy to accomplish, as last year’s starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, starting running back Blake Corum and starting receiver Roman Wilson all were selected in the NFL Draft.

Washington, whom the Wolverines beat in the CFP Title Game, also lost last year’s starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and a pair of starting wide receivers, Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, to the NFL Draft.

Your North Carolina Tar Heels, ranked as high as 10th in the country last season before another late-season collapse, will not have Drake Maye or Devontez Walker on their offense. UNC does return star running back Omarion Hampton, who broke out for 1,504 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, plus a deep tight end room headlined by Bryson Nesbit.

North Carolina will also have a solid offensive line anchored by Willie Lampkin, who earned Third Team All-ACC honors and started all 11 games he appeared in.

Lampkin is also one of the top returning linemen in the conference, as his 76.2 grade is fourth amongst ACC interior linemen.

Lampkin will be blocking for either Conner Harrell or Max Johnson in the fall, as the Tar Heels have not decided on their starting quarterback yet.

Regardless of who starts under center, it’s nice to know UNC has a reliable piece like Lampkin on its line.

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