Tag: Devontez Walker

Four Tar Heels earn ACC Player of the Week honors

Despite across-the-board production from the UNC football team in Saturday’s big win over Miami, only four players earned ACC weekly honors.

Another week, another Tar Heel victory.

This time, the UNC football team scored 24 second-half points and held off a late charge from Miami, for a 41-31 win.

Tar Heels star wide receiver Devontez Walker stole the show with his 6-catch, 132-yard, 3-touchdown performance. Quarterback Drake Maye tossed four touchdowns and went without an interception for the third straight game. Running back Omarion Hampton nearly reached the 200-yard mark and looked like his early-season self, while the defense allowed 17 point through three quarters.

As they deserve for their roles in the victory, Hampton, Maye and Walker were all named ACC Players of the Week. UNC linebacker Cedric Gray joined them on the list.

Though Walker proved his talent at Kent State last year, we hadn’t seen Saturday’s level of production from him in a UNC uniform yet. He caught six passes for just 43 yards against Syracuse the week before.

The guy Tar Heel fans thought Walker was going to be – he was on Saturday.

Hampton put the college football world on notice in UNC’s Week 2 comeback win over App State, gouging the Mountaineer defense for 234 yards and three touchdowns.

His production dipped the following three games, failing to reach 100 yards in each of them, but returned against Miami with 197 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.

Maye struggled a bit to start his redshirt sophomore campaign, throwing four interceptions in his first three games.

He’s rebounded since to put up Heisman Trophy winner-like numbers since, with two 400-yard outings and eight passing touchdowns in his last three outings. Maye set a season-best against Miami with four of those eight passing TDs.

Gray was a tackling machine against the Hurricanes, leading all players with 10 tackles (7 solo), one of them going for loss. He also deflected a Tyler Van Dyke pass.

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UNC Football: Helmet stickers for statement victory over Miami

The UNC football team made a statement with its 41-31 home victory over Miami last night. Which players stood out in the convincing win?

How about them Tar Heels?

The 12th-ranked UNC football team is still loving life, this time after a convincing, 41-31 primetime victory over Miami Saturday night in Kenan Stadium.

Trailing by three at halftime, Carolina star receiver Devontez Walker caught his second of three touchdowns and gave his team the lead for good (20-17). Despite allowing 31 points and nearly 500 yards, the Tar Heel defense didn’t allow a second-half score until just over the fourth quarter’s halfway mark. Omarion Hampton enjoyed his first 100-yard outing since Week 2 against App State, as the sophomore from Clayton, N.C. torched the Hurricane defense for 197 yards.

In a larger outlook, UNC’s win might just move it into the AP Poll Top 10. It beat a ranked team, in rather dominating fashion, while 11th-ranked Alabama barely squeaked by a struggling, unranked Arkansas squad and 10th-ranked USC was spanked by Notre Dame.

The AP Poll won’t come out until later today, but it’s always fun to speculate how far up the rankings Carolina moves. Do they even jump an Oregon team that Washington took care of yesterday?

While we wait to find out, let’s take a deeper look into which Tar Heels earned our Helmet Stickers for this week’s victory:

Tar Heel Football gets comedic shoutout on Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost mentioned the Tar Heels when talking about undefeated CFB teams in a skit with Kenan “Deion” Thompson.

If your adrenaline was still pumping last night from the UNC’s thrilling, 41-31 victory over a ranked Miami squad, chances are you stayed up late.

The story of the night was new Tar Heels wide receiver Devontez Walker, whose family was on hand to watch him deliver the best game of his college career (six catches, 132 receiving yards, three touchdowns). Carolina’s defense, despite allowing 31 points (14 of those were in garbage time), sacked Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke three times and shutout the Hurricanes in the third quarter.

Not too long after the game, UNC got a shoutout on a pretty well-known late night show.

On Saturday Night Live, while Kenan Thompson appeared on set as Deion Sanders, anchor Colin Jost gave the Tar Heels a comedic mention. while explaining to “Deion” college football’s remaining undefeated teams.

At the 1:31 mark, while “Deion” highlights that no team is perfect and asks Jost to name an undefeated team, Jost goes into highlighting several squads.

He leads off with UGA, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State, Oklahoma, Penn State and Washington.

Right after Washington, Jost mentions the Tar Heels.

Granted, it was in a humorous fashion, but pretty cool that our favorite school was briefly talked about on America’s favorite late night show.

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Devontez Walker put the college football world on notice with his standout performance vs. Miami

UNC wide receiver Devontez Walker showed out in his second game back from ineligibility, catching six passes for 132 yards and three scores.

It’s been a whirlwind of a season for UNC wide receiver Devontez Walker.

The West Charlotte High product, in his first season as a Tar Heel after transferring from Kent State, was ruled ineligible by the NCAA in August. This was initially thought as a massive setback for UNC, who was counting on Walker to be their new top receiver.

Whether it was J.J. Jones, Kobe Paysour or someone else catching Drake Maye passes, the Carolina wide receiver room exceeded expectations sans Walker.

Last week, the NCAA finally reversed its decision on Walker, allowing him to immediately step in and make the UNC passing attack that much more dangerous.

Walker caught six passes for 43 yards in the Heels’ 40-7 domination of Syracuse, showing Chapel Hill he had no signs of rust from lack of game action.

The Tar Heels hoped for, but maybe didn’t see coming, what Walker did for an encore on Saturday, Oct. 14 against Miami.

Walker made an otherwise Hurricanes defense look silly, catching six Maye passes for 132 yards and a game-high three touchdowns.

Yes – three touchdowns in his second game back from ineligibility. THREE.

Walker’s first score was the only one in the opening quarter, as he leaked behind Miami safety Te’Cory Couch for a 6-0 UNC lead.

With UNC facing a 17-14 deficit, Walker caught his second touchdown, a 56-yarder in which he got behind the Hurricanes defense once again, to give his team the lead for good just 1:48 into the second half.

You though Walker was done? Think again.

For his third and final touchdown of the night, just under seven minutes into the second half, Walker caught a Maye pass at the 10 yard line and broke a tackle en route to the end zone.

Kenan Stadium got louder with each succeeding Walker score. He was happy as a kid in a candy store postgame, with ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath immediately finding him after the final seconds ticked off the clock.

Walker’s career performance came in front of his biggest fans, as his family made the two-and-a-half hour trip up from Charlotte.

A statement UNC win against a ranked team, a three-touchdown performance and family on tap to watch.

There’s no doubt tonight has to rank among Walker’s top lifetime moments – both in and outside of football.

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Tar Heels blow Hurricanes away, match scoring record in moving to 6-0

UNC held off a late Miami charge for a 41-31 victory, continuing its best start in 26 years. Devontez Walker and the defense made it happen.

Saturday night in Kenan Stadium was the place to be if you’re a college football fan.

UNC-Miami was one of the most anticipated matchups of the Week 6 slate. This clash pitted two ranked teams – both with high-powered offenses led by two of the country’s top quarterbacks – against each other.

The Tar Heels faced arguably their greatest test of the seasons – and squashed it with ease, despite a late charge from the visiting Hurricanes.

After entering halftime with a 17-14 deficit, UNC’s offense exploded for 27 second-half points en route to a high-powered, 41-31 victory.

The two main highlights of this game were Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker and the Carolina defense.

Walker was playing in just his second game back from the NCAA ruling him eligible. There was hope Walker would be able to produce more against a stout Miami defense – he thoroughly exceeded expectations.

Walker snagged his first touchdown grab with 6:26 left in the first quarter, catching an 18-yard pass from UNC star quarterback Drake Maye.

Carolina’s first two touchdowns of the second half were also to Walker – a 56-yard catch in which he broke away from his defender, giving UNC an early third-quarter, 20-17 lead it would never relinquish, then his third on a 33-yard catch just seven minutes into the second half.

Oh – and Walker also recovered Miami’s onside kick attempt with two minutes remaining.

Despite the Hurricanes scoring 31 points, the Tar Heel defense rose to the challenge once again.

Midway through the third quarter, UNC linebacker Cedric Gray intercepted Tyler Van Dyke to set up Walker’s third and final touchdown.

The Tar Heels also sacked Van Dyke three times, a week after only sacking Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader once. They shutout the high-powered Miami offense in the third quarter.

UNC running back Omarion Hampton also quietly had another amazing performance, carrying the rock 24 times for 197 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in a third-quarter touchdown.

This was Hampton’s first 100-yard outing since Week 2, when he torched the App State defense for 234 rushing yards and three scores.

Virtually every Carolina unit played well, a common theme we’re seeing in 2023 victories.

Coupled with USC losses and Alabama barely winning, UNC should move further up in the AP Poll. Carolina is playing its best football at the right time and has certainly put itself in contention among the country’s best teams.

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UNC’s offensive outburst against Miami sets historical mark

Just how dominant has the UNC football offense been this year? They’ve scored 30 points in six straight games for the first time since 1914.

We’re not even done with the primetime UNC-Miami football game yet, but theTar Heels have already set a historical marker not achieved in over 100 years.

With Omarion Hampton’s second touchdown of the night, a 4-yard reception with three minutes left in the third quarter to make it 34-17, the Heels have now scored 30 points in their first six games – for the first time since 1914.

Yes – you read that right. 1914. Long before any of us were alive.

What makes this stretch that much more impressive, is the fact UNC is putting up these numbers against strong defenses.

 

When the Tar Heels faced Minnesota in Week 3, they went up against a defense allowing just 92.5 passing yards per game coming in. They turned around to face a Pitt defense that held two of three opponents to under 20 points. Syracuse entered last week’s matchup against UNC leading the ACC in opponent yards per game.

Miami has the second-best run defense in the FBS (58.2 opponent yards per game). Opponents have also scored an average of just 14.6 points per game against the Hurricanes – UNC has already touched 37 midway through the fourth quarter.

New wide receiver Devontez Walker has played a major role in tonight’s record-setting performance, with him being the first Carolina receiving to catch three touchdowns in a game since Josh Downs did it last year against Wake Forest.

Against a weak UVA team next week, expect the Tar Heels to continue pouring the offense on.

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WATCH: Devontez Walker’s second touchdown of the game

UNC wide receiver Devontez Walker is having himself a night, catching his second touchdown early in the third quarter of the game vs. Miami.

The first half of UNC-Miami football was about as evenly matched of a contest either team played in this season.

Miami carried a 17-14 lead into the locker room, thanks to a late-half drive capped off by an Andres Borregales field goal.

It didn’t take long for the Tar Heels to answer in the second half.

Star wide receiver Devontez Walker, in just his second game back from being ruled eligible by the NCAA, caught his second touchdown of the night – early in the third quarter – to give UNC a 20-17 lead.

The UNC offensive line gave Drake Maye some rare time in the pocket, but just enough to find his new top target for a beautiful touchdown. Walker ran toe-for-toe with his defender, but broke away just enough to score his second touchdown of the game.

Both teams have gone to the ground game a lot in tonight’s primetime contest, so this big passing play came as a bit of a shock. Carolina went majority run-heavy up until this score.

If Maye and Walker can continue connecting like this, whether just in tonight’s game or throughout the season, UNC’s offense will be increasingly difficult to stop.

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UNC Football: Five things to watch in primetime clash against Miami

The Tar Heels have their toughest ACC football test in the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday night. These are the five areas you should focus on.

There hasn’t been this much hype around the UNC football program since, well, the last century.

Carolina is 5-0 for the first time since 1997 – before any player on the current team was born. The Heels have throttled previously top-ranked pass defenses – Pitt and Minnesota – with ease. Omarion Hampton ran all over the App state defense for 200+ yards and Devontez Walker was recently ruled eligible, but the Tar Heel receiving room is so deep that Walker’s presence might not have as great an impact fans thought.

The most surprising storyline surrounding the team so far, however, is how well the defense is playing. It all started in Week 1, when UNC defenders sacked South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler nine times. App State was a game the defense wants to forget about, but it rebounded the following week and limited Minnesota gunslinger Athas Kaliakmanis to 11 completions. Carolina’s defense shutout Pitt in the second half (kick return was a defensive score), then held Syracuse to single-digits for the first time all year.

The Miami (FL) Hurricanes are coming into Chapel Hill this weekend for a 7:30 p.m. ET, primetime matchup with the Heels. Miami will likely be playing hungry and angry, looking to avenge last week’s stunning, home upset loss against Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes provide UNC with its toughest ACC test yet – can this talented Carolina team rise to the challenge?

Let’s dive into five areas you should be looking out for ahead of Saturday’s clash:

UNC vs. Miami: Game preview, info, prediction and more

The UNC football team’s undefeated record is put to the test Saturday, as it welcomes the Miami Hurricanes to town for a 7:30 p.m. ET kick.

There’s going to be two Hurricanes in Chapel Hill this weekend: the UNC offense and the University of Miami (FL) football team.

One hurricane, the UNC offense, is coming off a season-high in points during its 40-7 thrashing of Syracuse. Carolina quarterback Drake Maye looked even more like a Heisman Trophy contender, throwing for 442 yards and three touchdowns. Kenan Stadium welcomed back Devontez Walker in his return from ineligibility, Nate McCollum reached the 1,000-yard career mark and the defense, which struggled immensely in 2022, is enjoying success not seen in quite some time.

The other hurricane, Miami, is second-guessing itself after a time-expiring loss to an average Georgia Tech team. The Hurricanes had possession and the lead late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s matchup – all they needed to do was kneel down and run out the clock.

Instead, Miami handed the football off to Don Cheney, who fumbled right into the arms of Yellow Jacket defenders. Quarterback Haynes King marched his team right down the field, capping the game-winning drive off with a touchdown throw to Christian Leary.

UNC is playing its best football, with four of its first five wins coming against Power 5 opponents. Miami has four wins under its belt, including a Week 2 victory against then-23-ranked Texas A&M, but wins against Miami (OH), Bethune-Cookman and Temple are nowhere near as impressive as Carolina’s wins against South Carolina, App State, Minnesota, Pitt and Syracuse.

If Carolina wins, it’ll keep pace with Florida State and Louisville atop the ACC. Miami, however, hopes to play spoiler in this primetime matchup.

UNC Football: Offensive keys to the game against Miami

The Tar Heels just 40-pieced Syracuse last weekend in Kenan Stadium. What will their offense do for an encore against the Miami Hurricanes?

Another week, another dominating victory for the UNC football team.

A month after they were being questioned, for a closer-than-expected victory against a young App State squad, the Tar Heels are 5-0 and one of the ACC’s three remaining undefeated squads. They currently sit at 12th in the latest AP Poll, but if they keep dominating opponents, they’ll be a Top 5 team by years’ end.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, Carolina trounced Syracuse by a 40-7 mark. Drake Maye finished six yards off his collegiate career-high in passing yards and added a rushing touchdown, wide receivers Kobe Paysour and Georgia Tech transfer Nate McCollum each hit the century mark in receiving yards, plus the defense held an opponent to single-digits for the first time in nearly two calendar years.

UNC has an even tougher test this coming Saturday in Miami (FL), who comes to Kenan Stadium for a primetime matchup at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes were the victim of an unfortunate playcalling blunder last weekend, when their decision to run the ball – instead of kneel – led to a fumble and Georgia Tech’s eventual game-winning touchdown.

Miami’s defense could pose a challenge for UNC’s red-hot offensive unit, with the Hurricanes holding opponents to single-digits in three of their first five games.

Let’s take a deeper dive into what Carolina needs to do offensively for a statement victory: