Tag: bryson nesbit

UNC loses its leading pass-catcher to a broken wrist

The UNC offense suffered a major blow on Monday afternoon…

It’s not like the North Carolina Tar Heels will win a bunch more games this football season, but their offense has the ability to at least keep them close with opponents.

UNC has shifted to a run-first offense this year, led by star running back Omarion Hampton. North Carolina has an okay passing attack, led by fifth-year quarterback Jacolby Criswell, but it’s missing a Drake Maye-caliber QB. The Tar Heels also have a solid receiving corps, but one that’s extremely young and lacks a true number one guy like Devontez Walker.

UNC’s already-inexperienced receiving corps just received a massive blow on Monday afternoon, as Inside Carolina’s Ben Sherman announced that starting tight end Bryson Nesbit will miss several weeks with a fractured wrist.

Through seven games this season, Nesbit leads North Carolina with 24 receptions. Nesbit is also tied with fellow tight end John Copenhaver for a team-best three touchdown receptions, plus Nesbit is second to J.J. Jones in receiving yards (264).

Good news for Nesbit and the Tar Heels: they have a bye week this coming weekend, which will allow Nesbit to rest up and recover from injury a bit. He likely won’t be back for the Virginia game in two weeks, but could return for a Nov. 2 road date with Florida State.

With Nesbit now out, look for UNC to rely more on Copenhaver and Texas A&M transfer tight end Jake Johnson. Jones will also now likely take on a larger role at receiver, while North Carolina will call upon other pass-catchers to step up.

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Bryson Nesbit sets UNC football program record

Is Bryson Nesbit the best tight end to come through Chapel Hill?

The North Carolina Tar Heels have enjoyed one of college football’s deepest tight end rooms over the past couple seasons, in large part thanks to in-state standout Bryson Nesbit.

A senior from South Mecklenburg High School, Nesbit has a touchdown in each of his four seasons at UNC. Nesbit was a 2024 preseason Mackey Award Watch List honoree, meaning he’s in consideration for the nation’s top tight end.

Nesbit’s most recent touchdown, which opened up North Carolina’s scoring last Saturday in its home opener against Charlotte, set a new program record with 11 career touchdowns.

If you total Nesbit’s career stats through two games of the Tar Heels’ season, he has 1,308 career receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 38 catches. Nesbit needs 505 more receiving yards to surpass Eric Ebron, the last tight end from UNC to be selected in the NFL Draft.

Last year, Nesbit was in a timeshare with both John Copenhaver and Kamari Morales. With Morales now at Boston College, Nesbit should play a lot more this year.

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Nesbit, though, suffered an upper-body injury against Charlotte and didn’t return for the second half of play. North Carolina head coach Mack Brown provided some good news during the postgame press conference, saying that Nesbit – nor anyone else on the roster – is in danger of missing the season.

Will Nesbit return to the field soon and surpass Ebron in the receiving yardage department?

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Tar Heels roll past Charlotte to move to 2-0 on season

The UNC football team shook off some early hiccups in Saturday’s home opener and beat Charlotte by a comfortable margin, thanks to a well-rounded effort.

Even with a couple of early hiccups in their 2024 home football opener against Charlotte, the North Carolina Tar Heels played significantly better than last week at Minnesota.

After trading scoreless drives to open the day, UNC scored on three straight possessions to break away from the 49ers in a 38-20 victory.

UNC finished its day with 490 yards, significantly better than the 252 it registered in Week One.

Charlotte nearly punched back with a couple of touchdowns, driving deep into the North Carolina red zone on its second and third possessions, thanks to a couple of long drives led by starting quarterback Max Brown.

The Tar Heel defense, like it did last week against Minnesota, stood tall and limited the 49ers to a pair of field goals. Jahvaree Ritzie continued his strong start to 2024, recording two sacks and becoming the first Tar Heel with five sacks in two games since Kareem Martin in 2013.

Conner Harrell, who will be North Carolina’s starting quarterback for the remainder of 2024, finished his day with two touchdown passes – one to Bryson Nesbit and another to Christian Hamilton – and a rushing touchdown. He looked a lot more comfortable on Saturday, particularly after being thrust into fourth-quarter action in relief of Max Johnson last week.

Nate McCollum also added a rushing touchdown on a 37-yard, second-quarter end-around.

Omarion Hampton looked like his usual self for UNC, running for 80 yards through two quarters, but he left the game early with an undisclosed injury. True freshman running back Davion Gause played extremely well in relief of Hampton, picking up 109 yards and scoring his first collegiate touchdown.

Hampton wasn’t the only injured Tar Heel, as star edge rusher Kaimon Rucker was announced out before the game. He has a lower-body injury that will require him to miss a couple weeks.

North Carolina has another winnable game next weekend, hosting the FCS North Carolina Central Eagles.

Will injuries to Hampton and Rucker, UNC’s two best players, cause them to struggle? Or can the Tar Heels improve to 3-0 and get their stars some much-needed rest?

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Nine Tar Heels named to prestigious Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

The UNC football team sports plenty of 2025 NFL hopefuls on its 2024 roster.

Every college football player’s goal is to help their team win a national championship, but they also hope to be lucky enough for NFL Draft selections.

The Reese’s Senior Bowl, seen largely as a post-college football season All-Star Game, is a great way for NFL Draft hopefuls to showcase their talents in front of NFL scouts.

Despite UNC losing football standouts Drake Maye, Devontez Walker and Cedric Gray to the 2024 NFL Draft, there are several more Tar Heels on the current roster who are 2025 NFL Draft prospects.

Those Tar Heels – Marcus Allen, Power Echols, Desmond Evans, Omarion Hampton, Max Johnson, J.J. Jones, Willie Lampkin, Bryson Nesbit and Kaimon Rucker – are being recognized with nominations to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List.

Hampton is amongst the country’s best running backs, leading the ACC and finishing fifth nationally with 1,504 rushing yards last season. Rucker is one of college football’s top edge rushers, as he led North Carolina with 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2023.

Nesbit is amongst the country’s best tight ends, combining for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns the past two years. Jones is poised to take over UNC’s top wide receiver spot – he led UNC with 711 receiving yards last season.

Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson is battling for the Tar Heels’s starting quarterback spot with Conner Harrell. If Johnson starts, he’ll be protected by the likes of All-ACC lineman Willie Lampkin.

Finishing up with defense, Echols will form a deadly duo with Rucker by returning 102 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Evans is coming off a 33-tackle, five tackles for loss and 3-sack season that many expect out of a 5-star recruit, while Marcus Allen will arguably lead the secondary after his sophomore season with 49 tackles, an interception and a North Carolina-best eight pass breakups.

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Two UNC football tight ends land on Mackey Award watch list

Two UNC football players were named to the 2024 Mackey Award watch list.

While North Carolina lost some production on the offensive side of the football, they return two key contributors. Among the players returning for the Tar Heels are a pair of tight ends who will have an impact on the offense in Bryson Nesbit and John Copenhaver.

And on Friday, both earned some preseason recognition.

Both Copenhaver and Nesbit were named to the 2024 Mackey Award watch list for the 2024 season. It’s the second straight season that the duo were named to the watch list for the award that honors the most outstanding collegiate tight end each season.

For Nesbit, he’s coming off a big 2023 season in which he earned first-team All-ACC honors, appearing in 12 games. He finished the year with 41 receptions for 585 yards and five touchdowns.

For Copenhaver, he started 10 games for the Tar Heels in 2023, finishing with  18 receptions for 240 yards and four touchdowns.

Nesbit and Copenhaven are two of eleven tight ends in the Atlantic Coast Conference to make the list. 

The award will trim the list of preseason watch list players down to eight in late October and then three finalists in late November. The winner will be announced on the Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN on Dec. 12.

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UNC football players chosen for East-West Shrine Bowl watchlist

The UNC football team will be well-represented in January 2025’s East-West Shrine Bowl.

After months of anticipation build for the start of college football, the next season is over just like that.

Teams exceed their preseason rankings and end up playing for a championship, favorites fail to live up to the hype and new stars are born. Bowl season follows a regular-season full of surprises – in 2024, there’s more anticipation due to the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff.

With the departure of Drake Maye, Devontez Walker and Cedric Gray to the NFL, many North Carolina Tar Heel fans are wondering how the football season will pan out in Chapel Hill. There’s plenty of new – and returning – talent on both sides of the ball, highlighted by running back Omarion Hampton and linebacker Kaimon Rucker.

After UNC’s season ends, hopefully in a rare bowl victory, the East-West Shrine Bowl gives future NFL Draft hopefuls one last shot at collegiate gameplay – this time in front of NFL Executives. Recent stars from the Shrine Bowl include 2-time Super Bowl champion Isiah Pacheco and speedy wideout Zay Flowers.

Just over six months away from the 2025 Shrine Bowl, which will be played January 30 next year at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, 12 North Carolina football players were named to the Shrine Bowl 1000.

Desmond Evans, the Class of 2020’s second-ranked player overall, recorded 33 total tackles (18 solo), five tackles for loss and three sacks in 12 games played last year. Bryson Nesbit, expected to be a top tight end taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, led UNC tight ends with 585 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2023.

Rucker will lead the defense this coming season. He returns 61 tackles (34 solo), a team-high 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks from 2023. Power Echols, expected to be another defensive standout, returns 102 tackles (60 solo) and 5.5 tackles for loss.

Nate McCollum, expected to step into a larger starting role this year, caught 44 passes for 469 yards and a touchdown in 2023. Kevin Hester Jr., a starting defensive tackle, brings 30 tackles (12 solo) into the 2024 campaign.

J.J. Jones will likely be the Tar Heels’ top wideout. He led North Carolina with 711 receiving yards last season, plus he added three touchdown. Alijah Huzzie, who transferred in from East Tennessee State before 2023, led UNC with three interceptions last year.

Willie Lampkin is arguably the Tar Heels’ top offensive lineman, as he was named 2023 Third Team All-ACC and started all 11 games he appeared in last year. Antavious “Stick” Lane transferred into Chapel Hill ahead of the 2023 season, recording 62 tackles (33 solo) and three for loss, while NC State transfer Jakeen Harris brings 80 total tackles, eight deflected passes and three interceptions with him from Raleigh.

Last but not least, Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson will be competing for North Carolina’s starting quarterback job with Conner Harrell. He carries a ton of experience and talent with him – 5,853 passing yards, 47 touchdowns, 22 starts and four years of SEC football.

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Two UNC football players named to Walter Camp Preseason All-American team

Both Omarion Hampton and Bryson Nesbit earned preseason honors by Walter Camp.

The 2024 college football season continues to inch closer and before we know it, we will be kicking off in August. For North Carolina, they open up the season in Minnesota for a non-conference battle with the Gophers.

UNC’s schedule isn’t super tough this year but they will be challenged and with a new roster, Mack Brown and his staff will be under some pressure to deliver a successful season. And they could lean on the backs of two players on offense.

Running back Omarion Hampton and tight end Bryson Nesbit are among the top returners for the Tar Heels and both earned some preseason recognition.

To begin July, the duo were named to the Walter Camp Preseason All-American team. Hampton was named to the first team while Nesbit was named as the lone second-team tight end.

Hampton is coming off a big breakout season in 2023, rushing for 1,504 yards on 253 carries with 15 touchdowns. For Nesbit, he was a big target for quarterback Drake Maye, catching 41 passes for 585 yards and 5 touchdowns.

With UNC losing a lot of talent on offense, they return this duo that could be the biggest key for success for Mack Brown’s team.

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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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UNC football player listed as early top 10 prospect at position in 2025 NFL Draft

The North Carolina Tar Heels have one of college football’s best tight ends on their roster.

Despite all the talent on the North Carolina Tar Heels’ football roster, there’s also a ton of uncertainty surrounding quarterback and several skill positions.

Before we get into those groups, we already know that starting running back Omarion Hampton is not only the ACC’s best rusher, but amongst the nation’s best.

Moving onto quarterback, though, UNC still has three months to decide if Duke’s Mayo Bowl starter Conner Harrell or Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson will start under center. In terms of wide receiver, J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum are the two most experienced players.

Another area North Carolina doesn’t have to worry about is tight end, with Bryson Nesbit leading the way. Nesbit returns the Tar Heels’ second-high receiving yardage total from a season ago (585), putting him behind Jones.

Not only will Nesbit be a reliable receiving target this coming season, but he’s also a Top-10 tight end to know ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

“Nesbit blurs the line between wide receiver and tight end, spending the vast majority of his snaps in the slot for North Carolina,” PFF college football analyst Max Chadwick wrote. “Regardless of what he’s listed as, he’s still one of the top returning pass-catchers in the nation. The junior’s 1,092 receiving yards over the last two years lead all returning tight ends in college football. His 32 catches of 15-plus yards in that span trail only Brock Bowers and Ja’Tavion Sanders among Power Five tight ends. While he’s more of a slot receiver than an in-line tight end, Nesbit is still a matchup nightmare in the ACC.”

We haven’t seen tight end numbers like this from a UNC tight end since Eric Ebron, who was the Detroit Lions’ first round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Ebron compiled 1,803 receiving yards in three years at North Carolina, while Nesbit, who has 1,246 yards through three years, could very well surpass Ebron in yardage total by the upcoming season’s end.

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On3 is very high on this UNC football position group for 2024

An experienced tight end group will help the UNC football team navigate a new quarterback room this fall.

It seems like just yesterday, we were sitting on our couches watching Michigan and Washington battle it out for the CFP National Championship.

We’re now preparing for the start of the 2024 regular season, an exciting time fans are increasingly eager for with Spring Games and transfer portal additions.

The greatest headline to watch for the UNC football team, ahead of its Aug. 29 opener at Minnesota, is who will start at quarterback. North Carolina’s Spring Game provided an excellent opportunity for fans to see the Conner Harrell/Max Johnson battle firsthand, with each gunslinger standing out in specific areas.

One area the Tar Heels won’t have to worry about, though, is their stacked tight end room.

Headlined by returners Bryson Nesbit and John Copenhaver, plus transfer Jake Johnson (Max’s brother), North Carolina’s tight end group was deemed the nation’s third-best by On3 Sports.

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Nesbit ended his 2023 campaign with five touchdowns and 585 receiving yards, the latter making him third on UNC behind Walker and J.J. Jones. Copenhaver finished with 279 yards and four touchdowns, both second-most amongst tight ends, while Johnson ended his last year at Texas A&M with 235 yards and four scores.

Cort Halsey, Timmy Lawson, Deems May, Julien Randolph, Cal Tierney did not play for the Tar Heels last year. They’ll be looking to provide valuable production in the deep TE room, which will be a huge benefit for North Carolina’s quarterbacks.

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