Tag: Nate McCollum

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.

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 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:

UNC Football: Five things to watch against Pitt

UNC travels up to Pitt for its ACC football opener on Saturday night. Check out the five areas to watch ahead of the primetime clash.

The UNC football program is exactly where it wants to be three weeks into the season – undefeated and tied atop the ACC.

The Heels downed neighboring rival South Carolina, 31-17, in Week 1 for just the fourth time in 11 matchups. British Brooks ran for over 100 yards in his first game since 2021, while UNC’s defense held the Gamecocks to three second-half points.

Carolina received a major scare from new in-state rival App State the following week in Kenan Stadium, but pulled off an overtime comeback to win, 40-34. Omarion Hampton cemented his status as UNC’s lead running back, scoring three touchdowns against the Mountaineers and leading the nation with 234 yards that week.

After two slow weeks under center, Tar Heel quarterback Drake Maye delivered a Heisman Trophy-esque performance in the 31-13 triumph over Minnesota, completing 29 passes for 414 yards (sixth in the nation) and two touchdowns.

Pitt is moving in the opposite direction, sitting at 1-2 after a 17-6 loss to West Virginia in the 106th annual Backyard Brawl. Panthers quarterback Phil Jurkovec experienced one of the worst games as a collegiate quarterback, tossing three interceptions and failing to reach the 100-yard mark.

Pitt won its opener, 45-7 against Wofford, but the offense has not looked as explosive since. The Panthers hung 21 on Cincinnati, but gave up 27 points in the loss.

UNC-Pitt is the ACC opener for both teams, so let’s take a look at five key areas ahead of the game:

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

The UNC and Pitt football teams open up ACC play against each other on Saturday night. What does each team need to do for its first ACC win?

UNC is one of six ACC football teams to start its season 3-0 – and the Tar Heels are being rewarded with a primetime game.

The Tar Heels open up conference play against Pitt on Saturday night, traveling up to Pennsylvania for an 8 p.m. start. Each team’s respective season is trending in opposite directions – UNC sits at 3-0 after holding Minnesota to 13 points in last weekend’s victory, while Pitt dropped to 1-2 by losing the 106th annual Backyard Brawl to West Virginia.

Both teams have different playing styles.

Carolina is an offensive juggernaut that can either torture you with Drake Maye’s arm or Omarion Hampton’s legs. The Heels have reached 31 points in two of their first three games, including a season-high 40 in the back-and-forth triumph over App State.

Pitt is a team built on its defensive identity. The Panthers sport the nation’s third-best passing defense, allowing just 114 yards per game to opponents. Cincinnati beat Pitt 27-21 in Week 2, but that’s the highest point totaled Pitt’s given up through three weeks.

A strong passing defense didn’t stop Maye last week, as he torched Minnesota for 414 yards and two touchdowns. Maye should certainly win the quarterback battle against Boston College transfer Phil Jurkovec, who carries a 474-yard, 4-touchdown, 3-interception statline into Saturday’s battle.

Hampton is the best running back on either team – he is joined by another 100-yard rusher in British Brooks. Carter Daniel leads the Pitt rushing room with 103 yards, but three separate players have scores.

Let’s take a deeper dive into Saturday night’s ACC opener for both teams:

UNC Football: Offensive Keys to the Game against Pitt

UNC and Pitt meet Saturday night in the ACC football opener for both teams. See how the Tar Heels’ high-octane offense can break down Pitt.

UNC fans got what they’d all been waiting for last week – a Heisman Trophy-esque performance from star quarterback Drake Maye.

The Heels won their non-conference finale against Minnesota, 31-13, in large part due to Maye’s 2-touchdown, 414-passing yard performance. Maye developed newfound chemistry with wide receiver Nate McCollum in the victory, as the Georgia Tech transfer caught 15 (over half) of Maye’s passes for a game-high 165 yards and a touchdown.

UNC starting running back Omarion Hampton only gained 46 rushing yards and added a score, but he didn’t need to run for 200 yards for his team to be successful last weekend.

The Heels begin their quest for a second straight trip to the ACC Championship Game this weekend, as they begin conference play with a trip to Pitt on Saturday night (8 p.m., ACC Network). The Panthers are coming off a low-scoring, 17-6 loss to West Virginia in the 106th annual Backyard Brawl.

What exactly does UNC need to accomplish on the field to remain undefeated and start ACC play 1-0?