When Notre Dame plays North Carolina, Javon McKinley will have to figure out a way to step it up. As much of a leader as he’s been for the Irish’s receiving corps, his primary purpose has been to get the Irish downfield so that others can score. Why else would he not have found the end zone by now? However, this particular game really might require him to take his game to a level not seen this season.
The reason McKinley needs to be so excellent is he’s facing a formidable counterpart in the Tar Heels’ Dyami Brown. Though McKinley merely would be watching Brown on the sidelines regardless of ability and production, he would be watching a player who is living proof that the offense in Chapel Hill is as good as anyone’s in the country. What other reason would you need to explain a receiver literally averaging a touchdown a game and just over twice the receiving yards of McKinley? There is none, and the Irish’s defense, especially the secondary, better figure something out to contain him.