Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels Footabll

Three Tar Heels named to 247Sports’ Preseason All-ACC coaching staff

North Carolina’s Randy Clement, Larry Porter, and Lonnie Galloway have been named to 247Sports’ Preseason All-ACC coaching staff.

North Carolina’s offensive line coach Randy Clement, running back coach Larry Porter, and receivers coach Lonnie Galloway have been named to 247Sports’ Preseason All-ACC coaching staff.

A few Tar Heels staff received some preseason flowers Wednesday after being selected as coaches featured on 247Sports’ preseason list that rosters whom they believe belong on the All-ACC staff with help from the Matrix Analytical Solutions’ Coach Rating Index.

Here is what 247Sports said about Clements.

Offensive line coach: Randy Clements, North Carolina (91.03)

Experience: 10 years

Clements was one of the biggest under-the-radar hires of the offseason. The veteran offensive line coach has led some of the best units on some of the best offenses in recent history, including the top-ranked offenses at Baylor from 2013 through 2015. He coached at Baylor, Ole Miss, Florida State, Houston, and most recently at North Texas, and his units often ranked in the top 25 nationally in rushing offense. His offensive linemen at Baylor earned six All-America awards and 13 all-conference nods in nine seasons.

Here is what 247Sports said about Porter.

Running backs coach: Larry Porter, North Carolina (75.41)

Experience: 7 years

Porter has long been considered one of the country’s better running back and special teams coaches and one of the sport’s top recruiters.

The veteran coached the ACC’s top rushing offense in 2021 and was part of a record-breaking year at Auburn in 2017, when the Tigers broke an SEC scoring record. In his first stint at North Carolina, the Tar Heels made the most drastic improvement in the country in rushing year over year in 2015 as UNC went from averaging less than 2 yards per carry to ranking 18th nationally with 224.4 rushing yards per game, the highest average at the school in 21 years.

Porter previously coached running backs at Arkansas State, Oklahoma State, LSU, Texas, Arizona State and UCF, and was the head coach at Memphis for two seasons. Six of his LSU players were selected in the NFL Draft in his five years at the SEC school, which included a national championship in 2007.

Here is what 247Sports said about Galloway.

Receivers coach: Lonnie Galloway, North Carolina (74.07)

Experience: 13 years

Galloway has been a big part of North Carolina’s explosive offenses over the last three seasons. His receivers have sparked some of the nation’s best attacks, with four earning All-ACC recognition over the last four years. Receiver Josh Downs led the ACC in several categories and was an All-American and third-round NFL Draft selection. Antoine Green, Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome were All-ACC selections.

Galloway has had four receivers drafted since 2012. His units at Louisville and West Virginia produced multiple all-conference selections, and Kevin White was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award after breaking six school records at West Virginia. Galloway has coached at least one all-conference receiver at every stop during his 20-year career, including multiple All-Americans.

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Mack Brown named to Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List

North Carolina football coach Mack Brown named to Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List.

North Carolina football’s [autotag]Mack Brown[/autotag] has been named to the Dodd Trophy preseason watch list.

Thursday afternoon, the preseason watch list for the Dodd Trophy was released, featuring Brown as one of the potential candidates. The Dodd Trophy award is given to the Coach who led their team to success on and off the field.

In the announcement, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO & President Gary Stokan gave his spill on the candidates for this historic award.

“We are proud to recognize these men as great leaders in our sport who have consistently exemplified The Dodd Trophy’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity,” said Stokan. “Both on and off the field, these coaches have shown what it takes to always strive for excellence and help push their student-athletes to be their very best.”

The Atlantic Coast Conference is in a three-way tie for the most coaches on the watch list. Brown is joined by Dave Clawson, Dave Doeren, Willie Fritz, Mike Norvell, and Dabo Swinney from the ACC.

Brown won the award back in 2008 with Texas. If he were to win it this year, he would become the first active Tar Heel coach to win the award.

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What an opposing coach said about UNC Football going into 2023 season

Here is what an opposing coach had to say about the UNC football program going into next season.

The North Carolina Tar Heels won’t enter the 2023 season as favorites in the ACC but they should be right there in the mix with the Clemson Tigers and Florida State Seminoles.

The one thing that UNC does have going for them is the return of quarterback Drake Maye. In his first year as a starter, Maye impressed and was even in the Heisman conversation.

He returns for his second year but does so losing two big weapons and his offensive coordinator in Phil Longo. The Tar Heels did hire Chip Lindsey and Maye played a role in that but it could be a concern. And at least one opposing coach believes that.

Here is what that unnamed coach said about the Tar Heels:

What opposing ACC coaches told Athlon Sports about the Tar Heels … “Maybe the team with the most questions in the entire league. The knock on them in coaching circles is that they’ve become ‘Transfer U.’ No one really knows what the long-term plan is for Mack Brown and we think that’s starting to eat into their high school recruiting. Phil’s (former OC Longo) was so one-of-a-kind that it’s really hard to project what they’re going to do now. We know they want to run the QB, and Chip Lindsey’s offense will help them do that.”

Maye and the Tar Heels will have the chance to prove everyone wrong come September. And the hope is that the new duo of Maye and Lindsey can make things work in Chapel Hill.

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