Tag: Kevin Hester Jr.

UNC announces captains for Week 7 football clash with Georgia Tech

Which four Tar Heels will be walking to midfield as captains for today’s game against Georgia Tech?

Can the North Carolina Tar Heels, in the midst of their worst football stretch this year, turn their season around today against Georgia Tech?

It’s not impossible, but UNC (3-3, 0-2 ACC) hasn’t necessarily put itself in the best position to win recently. One week it’s poor defense, the next it’s a disappearing offense. North Carolina has plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, highlighted by running back Omarion Hampton and edge rusher Kaimon Rucker, but that talent isn’t translating into victories.

Regardless of how the Tar Heels play, it’ll certainly be a powerful scene inside Kenan Stadium. UNC is dubbing today its Cancer Awareness game, as it honors junior wide receiver Tylee Craft, who was diagnosed with lung cancer back in 2022.

North Carolina also named its captains for today’s clash: Starting defensive tackle Kevin Hester Jr., starting cornerback Alijah Huzzie, starting wide receiver Nate McCollum and tight end Cal Tierney, who battled cancer in the 2024 offseason.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBAI095OFNW/

Hester is enjoying his final season in Carolina Blue, as his two sacks make him one of just four Tar Heels with multiple. Hester also has 17 tackles (eight solo) and two tackles for loss.

Huzzie continues to lead the UNC secondary with a team-best five pass breakups. Huzzie also has 15 tackles (eight solo) and 2.5 tackles for loss to his name.

McCollum enjoyed a breakout game North Carolina’s wide receiver group desperately needed last week, catching 10 passes for a season-best 128 yards. McCollum was the first Tar Heel receiver to surpass the century mark in 2024.

Tierney has yet to appear in a game for UNC, but we’re hoping that he’ll be able to return in 2025 and play some much-deserved football.

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

Tar Heels name Players of the Game for Week 3 blowout of NC Central

Check out who North Carolina dubbed its Players of the Game for its Week 3 win over NC Central.

The North Carolina Tar Heels remained 3-0 on their young football season after Saturday’s victory, scoring 28 fourth quarter points to pull away from NC Central in a 45-10 thumping.

UNC’s defense allowed the visiting Eagles to score a touchdown on their opening driving, as the Eagles marched 75 yards down the field in 12 plays. After that defensive lapse, North Carolina recovered and limited NCCU to 167 total yards.

The Tar Heels’ offense started slow, as predicted, then scored their first points on Omarion Hampton’s first second quarter rushing touchdown. UNC freshman wide receiver Christian Hamilton recovered a muffed punt, then Hampton found paydirt four plays later.

North Carolina starting defensive tackle Kevin Hester Jr. recorded four tackles, as he was part of a defense that generated 67 total tackles and six tackles for loss. Kaleb Cost was the Tar Heels’ greatest defensive factor, recording a team-high eight tackles and two deflected passes, a half-sack and an acrobatic, fourth-quarter interception.

With the major roles they all played on Saturday, it’s no surprise that Hampton, Hamilton, Hester and Cost were UNC’s Players of the Game.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_-_Hyfu7iA/

North Carolina has one more non-conference game this coming Saturday, hosting the James Madison Dukes at 12 p.m. ET, then heads to archrival Duke on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. to open ACC play.

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

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.

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

Kevin Hester Jr. ruled OUT against Syracuse

North Carolina defensive tackle Kevin Hester Jr. is OUT against Syracuse with lower-body injury.

The UNC football program will be without starting defensive tackle [autotag]Kevin Hester Jr.[/autotag] for their meeting with Syracuse.

Hester was listed OUT before kick-off with a lower-body injury, seen with a walking boot on his left foot. This season, Hester has five tackles, two coming from the Pitt game.

Outside of Hester’s injury, UNC looks relatively healthy, with Willie Lampkin and Lejond Cavazos playing, not to mention the highly anticipated debut of Tez Walker, who finally became eligible.

The Tar Heels defense has shown significant strides this season, playing hero in multiple victories. Not having Hester hurts, primarily due to his experience.

Here is the injury report for the Tar Heels:

UNC will be looking to get their fifth win against a hot Syracuse offense, so it will be intriguing to see how the Heels fill the void.

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