UNC vs. App State: Game preview, info, prediction and more

UNC will play App State on Saturday, Sept. 9 in its home opener. The last time these two teams clashed, offensive fireworks exploded.

Both the UNC and App State football programs are riding high after Week 1 victories.

The Tar Heels rode a strong ground game and uncharacteristically strong defensive effort to a 31-17 victory over South Carolina, while the Mountaineers came back in the third quarter to down FCS opponent Gardner-Webb, 45-24.

Coincidentally, UNC and App are now just two days away from clashing in Week 2 action. We all remember what happened when these two in-state rivals last took the gridiron – a combined 62 fourth-quarter points, including 19 in the final 31 seconds.

The Tar Heels are currently favored by 17.5 points. They have a stud at QB in Drake Maye, while the Mountaineers are waiting to see if either Jake Burger or Joey Aguilar will suit up Saturday. UNC has a deep running back room that App State does not have. Both teams have relatively inexperienced wide receiver groups, but Carolina has the clear advantage in tight ends.

Expect UNC to win in dominant fashion, as this Mountaineers team is fairly inexperienced, but also expect a close battle.

UNC Football: Offensive Keys to the Game against App State

This article details what UNC needs to do offensively against App State in order to start 2023 with two consecutive wins.

It’s been a pretty good week for the UNC football team, mainly because of how it played in Week 1 against South Carolina.

The Tar Heels rode a strong ground game and an uncharacteristically strong defense to a 31-17 victory over neighboring rival South Carolina. UNC’s defense recorded nine sacks – more than half of its 2022 total (17) – while holding the Gamecocks to three second-half points.

Tar Heels starting running back British Brooks, in his first game since 2021, led all players with 103 rushing yards. UNC’s experienced ground game generated a total of 168 rushing yards, meaning quarterback Drake Maye didn’t need to be at his best.

As a result of all this, Carolina moved up to 17th in the latest AP Poll.

UNC’s schedule doesn’t get an easier, as they face a tough App State squad on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 5:15 p.m. in Kenan Stadium.

When the Heels and Mountaineers met last year in Boone, chaos ensued. UNC appeared on the brink of pulling away with a victory, scoring 34 unanswered points, only for App State to come crawling back and tie things up in the fourth quarter.

Both schools combined for 62 fourth-quarter points, yet it was the visiting Tar Heels who pulled out a 63-61 victory.

Heading into Saturday’s matchup, let’s take a deeper dive into what UNC needs to do for a second-consecutive win against their rivals in the Appalachian Mountains:

Brooks and Rucker take home ACC POTW honors for UNC

British Brooks and Kaimon Rucker, instrumental to UNC’s season-opening win against South Carolina, earned ACC Player of the Week honors.

There are few other feelings in sports that match starting a season 1-0.

Those teams get to claim they’re “undefeated” for at least one more week. Some of these 1-0 schools might enjoy that mark for the entire season, while others might fall back to .500 the following week.

UNC is one of the lucky schools who gets to stay undefeated heading into its Week 2 clash, as the Tar Heels rode a strong, second-half defensive performance to a 31-17 victory over South Carolina.

UNC generated nine sacks – more than half of its 2022 total (17). The ground game racked up 168 yards and two scores, while Drake Maye threw for over 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Because of their respective roles in the Tar Heels’ win, British Brooks and Kaimon Rucker earned ACC Player of the Week honors.

Brooks, named ACC Running Back of the Week, led the Heels’ ground game with a game-high 103 rushing yards on 15 carries. This game was an emotional return for Brooks, who played his first game since 2021.

Rucker, tabbed defensive lineman of the week, led all players with 5.5 tackles for loss and tied for a game-high two sacks.

Both Brooks and Rucker helped UNC start 1-0 for the second consecutive season. They’re now preparing for their first home game of 2023, as the Tar Heels prepare to host App State on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 5:15 p.m.

There was some history made when the two in-state rivals matched up last year, with Carolina prevailing in a high-scoring affair.

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

Chiefs UDFA Spotlight: Appalachian State C Anderson Hardy

Our #Chiefs UDFA Spotlight Series continues with a college left tackle who is making the switch to center in the NFL.

A two-star recruit out of Sanderson High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, Hardy received half a dozen offers from schools like Old Dominion, UConn, East Carolina, Coastal Carolina and Charlotte. He wound up sticking in North Carolina, but he ended up out in the mountains playing at Appalachian State.

Hardy redshirted as a true freshman in 2018, and would go on to appear in six games as a redshirt freshman the following season. He found his home at left tackle in 2020, earning a First-Team All-Sun Belt selection while playing the position as a senior.

Lifelong Jaguars fan Cooper Hodges happy to be drafted by ‘dream team’

Jaguars seventh-round pick Cooper Hodges played high school football just 30 minutes from TIAA Bank Field.

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted a local prospect early in the day Saturday when they took Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller in the fourth round, but the real hometown draftee is probably seventh-round guard Cooper Hodges of Appalachian State.

Before he was a star lineman for the Mountaineers, Hodges played at Baker County High School in Glen St. Mary, Fla., about 35 miles west of TIAA Bank Field.

“It hasn’t even really set in yet,” Hodges said in a conference call with reporters. “I’ve been watching the Jags for a long time. Just a lifelong fan. They’re the reason I got into professional football, just knowing there was a team 30 minutes away, going to games.

“To play 30 minutes away. For these home games, you’re gonna have family and friends there all the time, it’s just honestly a blessing and a great opportunity for me and I couldn’t be more excited for it.”

Hodges told reporters that he knew he was on the Jaguars’ radar, even though he was dealing with a stomach bug when he visited the team for its local pro day.

“I struggled just because I was real sick,” Hodges said. “But I was like ‘Man, I gotta find a way to get there and just, you know, be there.’ It’s my hometown team, it’s my dream team. I just had to fight through a little adversity and make it there.”

While seventh-round picks typically face an uphill climb to make the roster, there isn’t a ton of competition between Hodges and a roster spot as there’s little depth on the interior of the Jaguars’ offensive line.

During his time at Appalachian State, Hodges was a four-time All-Sun Belt selection and was credited with allowing seven sacks in 1,668 pass-blocking snaps at right tackle.

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Jaguars draft Appalachian State G Cooper Hodges with No. 226 pick

The Jaguars added some interior offensive line depth by picking Cooper Hodges in the seventh round.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Appalachian State offensive lineman Cooper Hodges in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft with the No. 226 overall selection.

Hodges, who was listed at 6’4, 305 pounds, was a four-time All-Sun Belt selection and earned Third Team All-American honors from Pro Football Focus in 2022. While he played right tackle for the Mountaineers, the Jaguars announced Hodges as a guard when he was picked.

The No. 226 overall pick used to select Hodges was acquired by the Jaguars in August 2022 with a trade that sent receiver Laviska Shenault to the Carolina Panthers.

Last offseason, the Jaguars signed Brandon Scherff to be the team’s right tackle. The left guard spot was decided in a training camp battle between veteran Tyler Shatley and 2020 fourth-rounder Ben Bartch. While the latter won the role, he suffered a season-ending injury and Shatley took over in the starting lineup.

There’s little depth at guard behind Shatley and Bartch, and Hodges will battle Cole Van Lanen and Blake Hance for a spot on the roster.

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One RB for the Eagles in each round of the 2023 NFL draft

We’re looking at one running back for the Philadelphia Eagles in every round of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Eagles will look different at running back in 2023, with Rashaad Penny replacing former Penn State star Miles Sanders.

Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and Trey Sermon give Philadelphia the potential for a solid committee of rushers. However, Eagles GM Howie Roseman could look to land the perfect fit during this month’s draft.

The Eagles have eyes for Bijan Robinson and Jahymr Gibbs, and we have one running back for each round if GM Howie Roseman decides to make a move.

Perfect mid/late-round RB fits for the Eagles in 2023 NFL draft

We’re looking at the perfect mid/late-round running back fits for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft

The Eagles will look somewhat different at running back in 2023, with Rashaad Penny replacing former Penn State star Miles Sanders.

Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and Trey Sermon give Philadelphia the potential for a solid committee of rushers. However, could Howie Roseman look to find the perfect fit during this month’s draft?

The Eagles have eyes for Bijan Robinson and Jahymr Gibbs, but we have the perfect fits if GM Howie Roseman decides to move in the mid to late rounds.

Los Angeles Chargers four-round 2023 NFL mock draft Friday 3.0

Here is the third edition of four-round Friday, laying out different scenarios on how the draft could play out for the Chargers.

The 2023 NFL draft is creeping up, so we will supply you with in-depth coverage between now and then to inform you who the Chargers could target while they’re on the clock.

With that being said, this is the third installment of the four-round mock draft Friday, where I will lay out different scenarios every week on how the first four rounds could play out for Los Angeles.

Karlyn Pickens pitches perfect game against Appalachian State

Karlyn Pickens pitches perfect game against Appalachian State.

No. 7 Tennessee (15-1) recorded two shutout victories Saturday in the Tennessee Classic.

Tennessee defeated Appalachian State, 8-0, in five innings in its first game Saturday.

Tennessee freshman Karlyn Pickens (2-1), the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, pitched a perfect game against the Mountaineers. She recorded five strikeouts in five innings.

Rylie West went 3-for-3, recording three doubles, one sacrifice fly and five RBIs for the Lady Vols.

Amanda Ahlin scored on a wild pitch and Jamison Brockenbrough hit a two-run double in the fourth inning for Tennessee.

Tennessee recorded its eighth consecutive shutout with a 9-0 win over Jacksonville State.

The Lady Vols hit four home runs in the contest. Kiki Milloy hit two home runs, while McKenna Gibson and Giulia Koutsoyanopulos hit one.

Payton Gottshall and Ryleigh White combined to pitch a two-hitter.

Gottshall (4-0) started and pitched four innings. She surrendered one hit and recorded six strikeouts.

PHOTOS: Karlyn Pickens pitches perfect game in Tennessee Classic