Tag: Cedric Gray

Two UNC football players named to Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Team

Two UNC football players made the Athlon Sports preseason All-America team for 2023.

With the 2023 college football season still months away, the preseason teams for the upcoming season are starting to roll in. Athlon Sports has released its preseason teams for conferences and now they are focusing on the All-America Team.

The publication rolled out the 2023 Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Team last week and there were two Tar Heels on that list.

Quarterback Drake Maye led the way by being named to the second team by Athlon Sports with USC’s Caleb Williams earning first-team honors. Maye and Williams are considered two of the best players returning to college football in 2023 and should be battling it out to be the top pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

On the defensive side, linebacker Cedric Gray was named to the third team by Athlon Sports, picking up another preseason honor after an impressive 2022 campaign.

Both players have earned some preseason recognition already and that will continue on in the summer months leading into the start of the new season.

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 LB Cedric Gray named to Lott IMPACT award watch list

UNC football linebacker Cedric Gray was named to the Lott IMPACT award watch list on Tuesday.

North Carolina Tar Heels’ linebacker Cedric Gray had a breakout campaign in 2022 and enters the 2023 season among the best at his position not only in the Atlantic Coast Conference but also all of college football.

Ahead of the season, Gray should earn recognition for his play by being named on watch lists. On Tuesday, he was named to his first watch list for that 2023 season.

Gray was one of 42 players named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list on Wednesday. The award is handed out annually to the most impactful defender in college football. This year’s award watch list features 16 linebackers, 13 defensive backs and 13 defensive linemen.

Gray finished the 2022 season with 145 total tackles, the most in college football. He also had 12 tackles for loss, five QB hits and three forced fumbles.

His efforts landed him a first-team All-ACC selection.

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’s Cedric Gray among top returning linebackers in 2023

UNC football linebacker Cedric Gray was named one of the top returning players at his position for the 2023 season.

While the 2023 college football season is still months away, there has been a lot of talk regarding the potential of the UNC football program.

A lot of that potential revolves around quarterback Drake Maye and his ability to repeat — and exceed — his 2022 season.

One other player who returns for the Tar Heels and will play a significant role is on the defensive side of the ball.

Linebacker [autotag]Cedric Gray[/autotag] comes back to Chapel Hill in 2023 after a phenomenal 2022 season. He had 145 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

According to Pro Football Focus, Gray will be among the top returning linebackers in the country next year.

Gray was a First-Team All-ACC selection last season, receiving the most votes at the linebacker position. He led the ACC in tackles.

He was also the lone Tar Heels player to be named a first or second-team All-American by the Sporting News.

“He’s one of the best players in the country,” UNC head coach Mack Brown said when announcing Gray’s return. “And he wants to come back and make sure he has a chance to finish this thing right.”

UNC finished the 2022 season 9-5 and ACC Coastal champs. However, the Tar Heels finished the season on a four-game losing streak and lost in the Holiday Bowl by one point to Oregon.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz9dkec01s6y18 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

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 helmet stickers for Week 1 win at Appalachian State

We take a look at helmet stickers from the UNC football programs win over Appalachian State on Saturday.

With Saturday’s thrilling win over Appalachian State, the North Carolina Tar Heels are now 2-0 on the year and survived in a tough environment.

It’s been a good start to the season for the most part with the offense carrying the load through two games. UNC’s defense does need to step it up but there were times on Saturday which were encouraging for the future. However, there were the same mistakes over and over again from the unit too.

Before we turn the page on this week and focus on Georgia State, it’s time to give out helmet stickers for the game.

We give these out after each game of the year to a few players that we believe were the standouts for UNC. This week, there was a familiar face in the helmet stickers but we also welcome three newcomers too.

 

Tar Heels announce captains for Week 0 against Florida A&M

Mack Brown and the UNC football program named the three captains for the Week 0 game against Florida A&M on Saturday.

The UNC football program is still prepping for Week 0 as they host Florida A&M this Saturday in Kenan Memorial Stadium. But before the two teams kick off their season, the Tar Heels have set their captains for the game.

Mack Brown and the Tar Heels announced on Tuesday that they will have three captains for the game: Defensive back [autotag]Obi Egbuna[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Cedric Gray[/autotag] and offensive lineman [autotag]Corey Gaynor[/autotag].

Both Egbuna and Gray saw playing time last year for the Tar Heels while Gaynor joined the team as a transfer from Miami.

The Tar Heels will rotate captains for every game this season and it likely will be based on how the week of practice went for the team and who stood out for them.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 8:15 p.m. ET and will be broadcasted on the ACC Network.

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

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Josh Downs headlines Athlon Sports’ All-ACC Preseason team

UNC football wide receiver Josh Downs headlines one of ten selections to the Athlon Sports All-ACC preseason team.

The UNC football program has landed ten players on Athlon Sports’ All-ACC preseason team for the 2022 season.

The publication released their annual preseason team for the conference, and headlining it for the Tar Heels is junior [autotag]Josh Downs[/autotag]. The wide receiver was one of four UNC players on the list but the only to make the first team in the selections.

Downs had a breakout year in 2021, catching 101 passes for 1,335 yards and 8 touchdowns, averaging 13.2 yards per catch. He was Sam Howell’s go-to guy in UNC’s offense and that should be the case going into this season but with a different quarterback at the helm.

Joining Downs on the team are DL [autotag]Myles Murphy[/autotag] (second team), RB [autotag]British Brooks[/autotag] (fourth team), OL [autotag]Asim Richards[/autotag] (fourth team), DL [autotag]Ray Vohasek[/autotag] (fourth team), LB [autotag]Noah Taylor[/autotag] (fourth team), LB [autotag]Cedric Gray[/autotag] (fourth team), DB [autotag]Tony Grimes[/autotag] (fourth team), S [autotag]Cam’Ron Kelly[/autotag] (fourth team), punt returner Josh Downs (fourth team).

Let’s hope there are more on this list at season’s end and they appear on the first team.

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

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Know your foe, North Carolina: 5 Tar Heels that could give Notre Dame problems

These Tar Heels are playmakers

This North Carolina team is much different than the one the Irish faced last year. Gone are some of quarterback Sam Howell’s weapons, and it’s shown this year. Yes, an underwhelming 4-3 record that they bring to South Bend wouldn’t scare many, but that doesn’t mean the Heel’s will get walked over Saturday night. Here are five North Carolina players who could give the Irish some problems.