Tag: Power Echols

Omarion Hampton’s big night, second-half defense helps UNC beat Wake Forest and extend bowl streak

Omarion Hampton enjoyed the game of his life Saturday. UNC’s defense held off Wake Forest late, helping the Tar Heels to a huge win that extend their bowl streak.

If the North Carolina Tar Heels didn’t have Omarion Hampton on Saturday night against Wake Forest, I think tonight’s outcome would look a lot different.

If UNC’s defense didn’t step up in the fourth quarter – albeit an almost collapse – I think we could be saying the same thing.

Thanks to Big O and a resurgent defensive unit, North Carolina beat Wake Forest, 31-17, for its third-consecutive victory and to make a bowl game for the sixth-straight year.

Hampton set multiple career highs – and rewrote the Tar Heel record books – in the best game of his collegiate career Saturday night.

Hampton carried the football a career-high 33 times and set a new career-high with 244 rushing yards, in addition to scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown that extended UNC’s lead to two possessions. He’s now fifth in career rushing yards (3,327), passing Don McCauley and Kelvin Bryant on the night. Hampton’s 35 rushing touchdowns also tie him with former North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams for third all-time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCdYqd2uJJT/

While Hampton stole the headlines, North Carolina’s defense also played a big role.

The Tar Heels allowed a Wake Forest touchdown with under two minutes remaining in the final quarter, but kept Wake scoreless for nearly 20 minutes – after allowing 14 third-quarter points. UNC’s lockdown defense spanned five drives, in which Wake only gained 27 yards on 15 plays.

North Carolina looked lost at one point this season, losing four-straight games and reverting to its old defensive tendencies.

Now, thanks to the best running back in the country and a resurgent defense. the Tar Heels are bowl eligible for a sixth-straight year and one of the ACC’s hottest teams.

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

Nine Tar Heels named to prestigious Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

The UNC football team sports plenty of 2025 NFL hopefuls on its 2024 roster.

Every college football player’s goal is to help their team win a national championship, but they also hope to be lucky enough for NFL Draft selections.

The Reese’s Senior Bowl, seen largely as a post-college football season All-Star Game, is a great way for NFL Draft hopefuls to showcase their talents in front of NFL scouts.

Despite UNC losing football standouts Drake Maye, Devontez Walker and Cedric Gray to the 2024 NFL Draft, there are several more Tar Heels on the current roster who are 2025 NFL Draft prospects.

Those Tar Heels – Marcus Allen, Power Echols, Desmond Evans, Omarion Hampton, Max Johnson, J.J. Jones, Willie Lampkin, Bryson Nesbit and Kaimon Rucker – are being recognized with nominations to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List.

Hampton is amongst the country’s best running backs, leading the ACC and finishing fifth nationally with 1,504 rushing yards last season. Rucker is one of college football’s top edge rushers, as he led North Carolina with 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2023.

Nesbit is amongst the country’s best tight ends, combining for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns the past two years. Jones is poised to take over UNC’s top wide receiver spot – he led UNC with 711 receiving yards last season.

Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson is battling for the Tar Heels’s starting quarterback spot with Conner Harrell. If Johnson starts, he’ll be protected by the likes of All-ACC lineman Willie Lampkin.

Finishing up with defense, Echols will form a deadly duo with Rucker by returning 102 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Evans is coming off a 33-tackle, five tackles for loss and 3-sack season that many expect out of a 5-star recruit, while Marcus Allen will arguably lead the secondary after his sophomore season with 49 tackles, an interception and a North Carolina-best eight pass breakups.

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

Echols and Rucker listed on 2024 Bednarik Award watch list

Two defensive stalwarts for the Tar Heels find themselves on a prestigious award watch list this season.

Two North Carolina Tar Heel defensive players are listed on the released watch list of the 2024 Bednarik Award. Kaimon Rucker and Power Echols look to anchor the Tar Heel defense to an excellent season this year.

Echols is a 5-foot-11, 220-pound linebacker who finished last season with 103 total tackles including 5.5 for a loss, those both tie and beat career highs. He also had one interception and two forced fumbles on the year in 13 games.

The senior linebacker, Rucker, finished his 2023 campaign with 61 total tackles and a whopping 15.0 for a loss. To put that dominance into perspective, he had just 15.5 total tackles for a loss heading into last season over his first three seasons.

He also added 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

They will both be up for one of the top defensive awards of the year.

According to goheels.com, “The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12, 2024. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.”

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

Mack Brown believes Tar Heels have chance to be better in 2024

Head coach Mack Brown thinks a new-look team might not necessarily be the worst thing for his UNC football program.

The ACC Football Kickoff came to an end on Thursday afternoon, with our North Carolina Tar Heels closing out the 4-day event.

UNC sent its best to Charlotte: head coach Mack Brown, start running back Omarion Hampton, linebackers Kaimon Rucker and Power Echols, plus the quarterback duo of Max Johnson and Conner Harrell, both of whom are competing for the starting job. These six got North Carolina fans excited about the upcoming season, which starts on Thursday, August 29 at Minnesota.

Even with all the talent the Tar Heels sport on this year’s roster, there’s no denying it’s different. UNC doesn’t have star wide receiver Tez Walker, but the most glaring difference is no Drake Maye, whom the New England Patirots took third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Are there going to be growing pains? Sure. Will it be weird catching passes from either Harrell or Johnson? No, but players will have to build chemistry with a different guy under center.

Regardless of how you choose to look at North Carolina’s upcoming season, Brown is confident about his team’s chances.

“I think we can have a better chance to have a better team without as much hype at quarterback,” Brown told ESPN’s Andrea Adelson. “We’ll run the ball better. We’ll play better defense. We’ll play complementary football better. With Sam and Drake, you’re trying to win the Heisman. You’re throwing it every time.”

Omarion Hampton is easily the Tar Heels’ most skilled returner, as he earned First Team All-ACC honors last year, during a season when he collected 15 rushing touchdowns and a conference-best 1,504 rushing yards. Echols collected 102 tackles in 2023, while Rucker had a team-high 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

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.

Several UNC football players tabbed Preseason All-American and All-ACC

The North Carolina Tar Heels could surprise some people on the gridiron this coming season.

Roster-wise, the 2024 UNC football season is going to look significantly different.

Gone are 2023 stars Drake Maye, Devontez Walker and Cedric Gray to the NFL. North Carolina will have a new starting quarterback for the first time in three years, a decision that has yet to be made between Jacolby Criswell, Max Johnson and Conner Harrell, while there isn’t a ton of experience in the wide receiver room behind J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum.

The Tar Heels return plenty of stars, though, headlined by running back Omarion Hampton and jack linebacker Kaimon Rucker. Whichever QB wins the starting job should take advantage of UNC’s deep tight end room, including Bryson Nesbit, John Copenhaver and Texas A&M transfer Jake Johnson.

Just over two months away from North Carolina’s season-opener – Thursday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. ET in a rematch with Minnesota – several Tar Heels made college football analyst Phil Steele’s Preseason All-American and All-ACC teams.

Hampton, a Preseason First Team All-American and All-ACC honoree, led the ACC and finished fifth in the country with 1,504 rushing yards last year.

Rucker, a Preseason First Team All-ACC and Fourth Team All-American honoree, led the Tar Heels with 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks last season. Nesbit, also a Preseason First Team All-ACC and Fourth Team All-American, paced UNC’s tight end room with 585 receiving yards and finished second overall with five touchdowns.

Alijah Huzzie, a Preseason First Team All-ACC honoree, led North Carolina with three interceptions last year. He also had the Tar Heels’ lone return touchdown.

Power Echols, a 2023 starting linebacker who formed a formidable 1-2 tandem with Gray, recorded 102 tackles last season. That is most amongst returners.

Willie Lampkin, who rounds out the Preseason honors with his Third Team All-ACC Honors, started all 11 games he appeared in last year on the Tar Heels’ offensive line.

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 names captains for ACC football opener at Pitt

After three, hard-fought wins against South Carolina, App State and Minnesota to open the season, the UNC football team is ready to take on the gauntlet of ACC play. The Tar Heels are currently sitting in Pennsylvania, hours away from facing off …

After three, hard-fought wins against South Carolina, App State and Minnesota to open the season, the UNC football team is ready to take on the gauntlet of ACC play.

The Tar Heels are currently sitting in Pennsylvania, hours away from facing off against Pitt in the ACC opener for both teams. UNC and Pitt will clash at 8 p.m. ET under the bright lights of Acrisure Stadium.

Carolina holds the all-time series record with 11 wins and five losses, though the Panthers took two of the past three matchups. UNC won handily last year in Chapel Hill, 42-24, behind five Drake Maye touchdown passes.

Let’s take a look at the Tar Heel captains for today: Maye (offensive), Power Echols (defensive) and Bryson Nesbit (special teams).

Maye finally delivered the breakout game we’ve all been expecting last week, completing 29 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns. He also found his true number one wide receiver in Nate McCollum, with the Georgia Tech transfer catching 15 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown.

It’ll be tough to deliver that same performance again, as Pitt is holding opponents to just 114 passing yards per game (third-best in FBS). Minnesota was limiting opponents to under 100 passing yards per game before last week, then Maye exploded, so don’t expect the Panther’s defense to play spoiler.

Will Maye go to McCollum? J.J. Jones? Kobe Paysour? Regardless of who, Maye’s due for another Heisman Trophy-esque performance.

One teammate Maye could be throwing to a lot is Nesbit, another Tar Heel captain. Nesbit carries grand expectations with him this year, as he was named to the Mackey Award Preseason Watch List. This award goes annually to the nation’s top tight end.

Nesbit’s only tallied 77 receiving yards to start his junior campaign, but he also caught one of Maye’s four touchdown passes.

Echols led UNC’s defense with nine tackles (seven solo) in the 31-13 triumph over Minnesota last week. Echols, the starting mike linebacker, is second among the Tar Heels with 24 total tackles.

Set aside the lackluster performance against App State – and Carolina’s defense has seemingly played better through three games than it did all last season, particularly in the second half. UNC has allowed just six second-half points between the South Carolina and Minnesota games.

As the Tar Heels prepare to face a lackluster offense, expect another huge game out of Echols.

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

McCollum leads four Tar Heels with Player of the Game Honors

UNC football players Nate McCollum, Power Echols, Noah Burnette and Liam Boyd were named Players of the Game for last week’s performances.

After nearly losing to App State last weekend, the UNC football team responded with a well-rounded, 31-13 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

Carolina got the Heisman Trophy-level performance it craved from star quarterback Drake Maye, as the redshirt sophomore threw for a season-high 414 yards and two touchdowns. The Tar Heel defense looked a lot more like its Week 1 self, allowing three second-half points and just 11 Athas Kaliakmanis completions.

UNC is now 3-0 through four games – and for the third time in four seasons. Two of the Tar Heels’ three victories came against Power 5 opponents, which is going to help their case if they are undefeated well into ACC play.

There were so many stars on both sides of the ball, but only a select few Tar Heels earned Player of the Game honors.

This week, those honors went to wide receiver Nate McCollum, starting Mike linebacker Power Echols, plus place-kickers Liam Boyd and Noah Burnette.

After posting a virtually non-existent stat line against App State, McCollum exploded for 165 yards and a touchdown on 15 catches. He was named ACC Wide Receiver of the Week.

Echols led all Tar Heel defenders with nine tackles, including seven solo wrap-ups, accounting for just over 32 percent of them.

Burnette, last year’s starting kicker, was a perfect 5-for-5 on kicks. He made all four extra points and connected on a 42-yarder to cap the third quarter scoring.

Four of Boyd’s six kicks went for touchbacks. Boyd, the Clemson transfer, totaled 389 yards on his kickoffs.

One common theme I’m noticing in UNC’s early games is a willingness to step up. So far, there have been no repeat Players of the Game.

We’ll have to wait several days to see who Carolina’s next Player of the Game batch will be. The Tar Heels will travel up to Pennsylvania on Saturday for their ACC opener, as they take on Pitt at 8 p.m.

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 lands 12 players on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-ACC List

The UNC football program has 12 players make Phil Steele’s Preseason All-ACC team in his magazine.

Mack Brown’s North Carolina football program is one of the more interesting teams going into this Atlantic Coast Conference season.

After starting 9-1 a year ago, they finished 9-5 and lost four-straight games including the ACC Championship and the Holiday Bowl. But with Drake Maye back for another year, expectations are high in Chapel Hill.

As we sit here in June, Phil Steele has finished putting together his annual preview for the upcoming season. The guide is one of the best that is available and breaks down each team across the country.

For North Carolina, they landed 12 players on Steele’s Preseason All-ACC team, headlined by Maye, linebacker Cedric Gray and punter Ben Kiernan as first-team selections.

Joining them on the list are :

  • LB [autotag]Power Echols[/autotag] (2nd team)
  • LS [autotag]Drew Little[/autotag] (2nd team)
  • WR [autotag]Nate McCollum[/autotag] (3rd team)
  • OL[autotag] Corey Gaynor[/autotag] (3rd team)
  • RB [autotag]Omarion Hampton[/autotag] (4th team)
  • WR [autotag]Devontez Walker[/autotag] (4th team)
  • DL [autotag]Myles Murphy[/autotag] (4th team)
  • DB [autotag]Alijah Huzzie[/autotag] (4th team)
  • K [autotag]Ryan Coe[/autotag] (4th team)

North Carolina had just seven players make the preseason team last year in Steele’s book.

The talent is certainly there for North Carolina to make a run but they have to find consistency. They will be tested early on with a season opener against South Carolina and then non-conference games against Minnesota and Appalachian State before opening up conference play.

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’s Power Echols had the most ridiculous interception against Oregon and the internet loved it

You have to see this play to believe it.

The World Cup may be over, but we haven’t seen the last of the soccer skills. North Carolina’s sophomore linebacker Power Echols put the foot in football in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl with maybe the most incredible interception of the college football season.

Oregon’s Bo Nix targeted his big tight end, Terrance Ferguson, and it looked as though the play was dead as the ball caromed off the calf of the Tar Heel defending on the pass. Echols didn’t give up, however, sneaking a toe under the football and giving it just enough air to stay alive.

The ability to pop it back up, get your hands on it, AND stay on your feet for a lengthy return? Legendary. Not only was the interception incredible, it was huge for North Carolina’s momentum. The Ducks were driving inside the UNC 20-yard line, looking to break the 14-14 tie. Instead, it went the other way and Drake Maye tossed a 49-yard touchdown one play later to give the Heels the 7-point lead.

Unsurprisingly, the internet couldn’t get enough of the incredible play.