Tag: jahvaree ritzie

Tar Heel defense showed marked improvement in first game under new DC Geoff Collins

UNC’s defense limited Minnesota to just 17 points in its season-opening victory on Thursday night.

Watching UNC’s defensive unit take the football field, most of the time, is unbearable to watch. There’s be countless missed tackles, breakdowns in coverage and hardly any pressure at the line of scrimmage.

If the Tar Heels had any semblance of solid defense in either 2022 or 2023, I feel confident they win the ACC. Such wasn’t the case, though, with a unit performing so bad in 2023 that Gene Chizik lost his defensive coordinator job.

Through just one game in 2024 under new defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, North Carolina’s defense looks significantly better.

UNC escaped Minnesota with a season-opening, 19-17 victory on Thursday, Aug. 29. While the Golden Gophers took advantage of a few Tar Heel mishaps on their final drive, it was the Tar Heel defense who helped the Tar Heels limit a Power 4 program – on the road – to under 20 points.

North Carolina’s strong defensive output can be attributed to virtually everyone, though defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie and defensive back Jakeen Harris played the largest roles.

Ritzie, who is a full-time starter this year after playing all 13 games in a reserve role last season, led all players with three sacks and tackles for loss apiece. Harris, who transferred from rival NC State in the offseason, led all players with 10 tackles.

Last season, it’d be a miracle if UNC could keep a team under 20 points in one half. The Tar Heels did that over an entire game Thursday night.

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Jahvaree Ritzie proves to be UNC’s defensive difference-maker in win over Minnesota

Jahvaree Ritzie enjoyed the type of breakout game UNC’s defense needed in Thursday night’s season-opening win over Minnesota.

I’m still in shock about how UNC escaped Minnesota with a 19-17, season-opening victory that came down to the final whistle.

The Golden Gophers enjoyed a couple of chunks plays to set up their game-winning field goal attempt, only for Dragan Kesich to miss his second kick. North Carolina, on the contrary, enjoyed a perfect night from kicker Noah Burnette.

There was another Tar Heel – on the defensive side of the ball – who played a near-perfect game.

That Tar Heel was defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie, who led all players with three sacks and tackles for loss apiece. Ritzie eclipsed his career sack total in just one game, as Ritzie had 2.5 sacks combined in his first three UNC seasons.

Ritzie was North Carolina’s leader at the line of scrimmage, constantly disrupting Minnesota’s rhythm by bursting through its offensive line, even if he didn’t record a sack or tackle. Ritzie’s production showed how good of a defensive unit the Tar Heels can carry throughout the fall, particularly under new defensive coordinator Geoff Collins.

Check out Ritzie’s postgame interview below, in which he took a humble approach but was proud of UNC’s effort:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_S_QKUpqZV/

Ritzie gets another golden chance to lead North Carolina at the line of scrimmage on Saturday, Sept. 7, as the Tar Heels return to Kenan Stadium for their home opener against Charlotte.

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Jahvaree Ritzie speaks highly of Travis Shaw’s improvements in spring action

UNC’s defensive leader Jahvaree Ritzie speaks highly of Travis Shaw’s improvements following Saturday’s Spring Football game.

The UNC football program will be counting on a few players this season, including [autotag]Travis Shaw[/autotag], who is entering his third season.

The five-star recruit has yet to produce the season Tar Heel fans hoped for when he committed to the program in 2021. In two seasons, Shaw has mustered up 29 tackles (1.5 for loss), three pass deflections, and zero sacks.

However, the 6’5, 330-pound defensive lineman has shown glimpses of what he brings to the table, and teammate [autotag]Jahvaree Ritzie[/autotag] echoed that Saturday following UNC’s spring football game. 

“Big Trav been working this spring I ain’t gonna lie.” Ritzie continued “His work ethic has taken off. I am really proud of Travis, because coming in as a young guy, we all have our ups and downs but Trav has been taking off going into his junior year.” 

Ritzie broke down what improved in Shaw’s game this spring, oozing with excitement as he broke it down. 

“His point of attack, him with his hands, his eyes, his base. He looks good out there, he’s running to the ball every single play. There’s been a bunch that he’s improved on that I am proud of him for.” 

Shaw heading into his junior year, can be a difference-maker for this program that is expected to be blitz-heavy behind Geoff Collins. If Shaw can live up to his five-star status, who knows what’s in store for the UNC football program? 

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4-star DE Jahvaree Ritzie includes Georgia football in top-five

The number 10 DE in the 2021 recruiting class Jahvaree Ritzie has announced his top 5 schools.

4-star class of 2021 defensive end Jahvaree Ritzie has announced his top five schools, including Georgia in that five.

His top five includes Georgia, UNC, Ohio State, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Ritzie, who stands at 6-foot-4, 274 pounds is the No. 10 strong side defensive end in the nation for his class and No. 7 in the state of North Carolina.

He ranks as the nation’s No. 160 overall player.

Ritzie is from Kernersville, North Carolina, where he attends Glenn High School.

 

Georgia among four-star DE Jahvaree Ritzie’s top schools

The Georgia Bulldogs have made four-star defensive end Jahvaree Ritzie’s list of top schools. Ritzie plays football at Glenn High School.

The Georgia Bulldogs have made four-star defensive end Jahvaree Ritzie’s list of top schools. Ritzie, who plays football at Glenn High School, is a member of the class of 2021.

Kirby Smart and UGA will turn their focus to the class of 2021 following Wednesday’s National Signing Day. Georgia currently has the number one ranked class of 2020.

Ritzie is a recruiting target for UGA, who is from Kernersville, North Carolina. Ritzie announced his top schools via Twitter:

Ritzie is considering numerous schools including: Georgia, NC State, UNC, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio State, Wake Forest, Duke, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Tennessee. UNC and NC State are considered among the favorites to land the four-star DE.

Georgia currently has three commitments in the class of 2021. The Dawgs currently have a commitment from North Carolina in the class of 2021 in Jared Wilson, who is from Clemmons, NC.

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