Tag: Nate McCollum

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.

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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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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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Five things to watch in Saturday afternoon UNC-Campbell football clash

Theoretically, UNC should easily dominate Campbell in Saturday’s home football matchup. But things haven’t come easy in Chapel Hill so far.

It’s always exciting when two teams play each other for the first time.

Exciting, however, isn’t a word that’s be used a lot within the UNC football program.

The Tar Heels went from a 6-0, fringe College Football Playoff team to a struggling, 6-2 squad that likely won’t even make the ACC Championship. They’ve lost to 2-win UVA and Georgia Tech, a former sub-.500 team, who is unofficially known as UNC’s kryptonite.

Carolina has a golden chance to press reset this coming Saturday, when it hosts in-state FCS school Campbell University at 12 p.m.

UNC’s track record against FCS opponents is pretty solid, including a 56-24 thumping of Florida A&M in last year’s season opener. The year before, Carolina downed Wofford, 34-14.

With all that’s gone wrong in Chapel Hill recently, a lot of things are about to go right on Saturday. UNC’s passing game should put up sky-high numbers, while the rushing game should continue thriving.

Of course, Carolina is a team that seemingly plays down to opponents. UNC could simply look at Campbell and decide, “Okay, we can take it easy today.”

Remember when The Citadel beat South Carolina – in Columbia – during the 2015 season? The Tar Heels don’t want to become part of that unfortunate history.

What are some key areas to keep your eye on in Saturday’s game?

UNC Football: Offensive keys to game for noon kickoff against Campbell

The UNC football program hosts Campbell on Saturday. This should provide Carolina with an easy opportunity to get back in the win column.

Through eight games into the UNC football season, we know one thing: Offense is NOT the issue.

Carolina has 31 points in seven of its eight games, with the lone exception being a 31-27, home clunker against UVA. The Tar Heels seem to do one of two things – start hot and then cool off, or rally after halftime.

Carolina’s been doing the former recently, scoring 45 first-half points between the UVA and Georgia Tech losses. The Tar Heels have, on the other hand, managed just 24 second-half points.

With a team so offensively-skilled like UNC, why does it fail to play a consistent football game? Carolina sports stars at every offensive skill position – a former Heisman Trophy contender in Drake Maye, a budding star running back in Omarion Hampton, a true number one receiver in Devontez Walker, plus a deep tight end room headlined by Bryson Nesbit.

That is a question Carolina hopes to answer during practices this week, as it prepares for a home, 12 p.m. kickoff on Saturday against Campbell University. UNC should wipe the floor with its upcoming FCS opponent, but given how porous its defense is, no win is guaranteed anymore.

What exactly does Carolina need to do offensively against the Camels? Let’s find out.

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

The UNC football team welcomes UVA to town Saturday night for the South’s Oldest Rivalry. Take a look at a few things we think could happen.

There’s never a time for any team to take its foot off the gas pedal, particularly when that team is playing well and has aspirations greater than a conference crown.

Yet when teams come up just short of the ultimate prize, underestimation is a common theme. Already this season in college football, we’ve seen a great Colorado team fall back to earth and a USC squad get dominated by Notre Dame.

I’m not saying those teams have underestimated opponents, but they each made us believe they had greater plans.

Last year, there was a case for then 9-1 UNC underestimating Georgia Tech ahead of their Nov. 19 matchup. Carolina appeared well on its way to a win, leading 17-7 at halftime, only to be shutout in the second half.

The Tar Heels face a similar situation on Saturday. They’re undefeated and face a struggling squad, this time in the form of 1-win UVA. The Cavaliers are coming off a 27-13 win two weeks ago, against in-state rival William and Mary. They could easily have four wins, but lost to N.C. State, Boston College and James Madison by a combined seven points.

UNC has scored 40 points in four games already, while Drake Maye just threw for four touchdowns last weekend against Miami. The Tar Heel defense is equally as impressive, particularly in the second half of games.

If UNC doesn’t play its cards right, loss number one could be staring it in the face. The likelihood of this happening is very slim – Carolina is a much better team this year – but you can bet the Cavaliers are aiming to play villian for Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

UNC Football: Offensive Keys to the Game against UVA

What hasn’t the UNC football team done offensively? We take a look at how the Tar Heels’ deadly offense can thrive against a weak UVA squad.

Sitting at 6-0 atop the ACC with Florida State, the UNC football team is in a great position to contend for a conference championship.

Outside of App State, the Tar Heels have beaten opponents with relative ease. Casuals might look at their undefeated record and think, “must be a bunch of FCS teams.”

Nope.

Five of Carolina’s six wins – South Carolina, Minnesota, Pitt, Syracuse and Miami – are against Power 5 schools. The lone school outside the Power 5 is an App State squad that competes with the country’s best – see last year’s upset at Texas A&M.

UNC only has one FCS team, Campbell University, on its schedule for Saturday, Nov. 4. This is common of several Power 5 schools to play at least one FCS school.

The Tar Heels have scored 40 points in four of their six games – even more impressive against top-ranked defenses in Minnesota, Syracuse and Miami. Drake Maye looks more and more like a Heisman Trophy contender each week, Omarion Hampton gives UNC its first star running back since Ty Chandler, while the group of pass-catchers is among the most talented in recent history.

Carolina plays likely it easiest ACC opponent in UVA on Saturday, Oct 21. While the Tar Heels are expected to win big, let’s take a look at exactly what they need to do offensively in hopes of continuing their win streak:

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:

Six 100-yard receivers have UNC’s passing attack amongst nation’s best

The UNC football program doesn’t know who’ll lead its passing attack in a given week. That’s a good thing keeping opponents guessing.

When Drake Maye is your quarterback, you’re going to score lots of points and win plenty of games.

Behind every great quarterback, however, is a great group of pass-catchers.

Fortunately for Maye, the UNC gunslinger who is projected to be a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, his pass-catchers are making life easy for him.

With Walker initially being ruled ineligible, guys had to step up at receiver. The other receivers haven’t only stepped up, they’ve thoroughly exceeded expectations, with six guys reaching at least 100 yards.

Walker finally earned eligibility, sending a massive cheer throughout Tar Heel Nation. His presence should further bolster an already dangerous group.

Georgia Tech transfer Nate McCollum is atop the group with 355 receiving yards. He just registered his second 100-yard receiving effort in two weeks, catching seven Maye passes for a UNC-high 135 yards against Syracuse.

J.J. Jones has 318 yards, but still is looking for his first score. Jones’ best output this year was a six-catch, 117-yard showout at Pitt.

Kobe Paysour leads Carolina with three receiving touchdowns. His first 100-yard outing came against Syracuse, as he caught three passes for exactly 100 yards and a score.

All three tight ends have over 100 receiving yards, but Bryson Nesbit leads the way with 167 receiving yards. Kamari Morales (not pictured in above post) has 139 receiving yards, while John Copenhaver has 106. Nesbit and Copenhaver have two receiving touchdowns each.

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UNC Football: Helmet stickers for win over Syracuse

The UNC football team obliterated Syracuse, 40-7, yesterday afternoon in Chapel Hill. Check out who won our helmet stickers for the win.

It seemed like everything was working for the UNC football team on Saturday afternoon, as it dominated Syracuse, 40-7, in a convincing win that showed it’s among the ACC’s top teams.

Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is looking more and more like a Heisman Trophy contender each week, as he nearly set a career high in passing yards against an Orange defense that played well coming in. Tar Heels wide receiver Nate McCollum delivered his second 100-yard performance in as many weeks. Omarion Hampton nearly broke 80 yards rushing and the UNC defense, among college football’s worst last year, held Syracuse to a season-low in points.

There were so many UNC players and units deserving of helmet stickers, but we’ve decided to narrow in on a select few. Let’s take a deeper dive into this article and see who captured them: