UNC football likely to face Duke’s backup quarterback

The UNC football program will face off against Duke’s backup quarterback for the home finale on Saturday.

The North Carolina Tar Heels will play in their final home game of the 2023 season on Saturday as they host the Duke Blue Devils in primetime.

While it will likely be the final game for quarterback Drake Maye in Kenan Memorial Stadium, the matchup could have been against another good quarterback in Riley Leonard. But as we get closer to Saturday, it appears as if it will be Duke’s backup that will get the start instead.

Head coach Mike Elko met the media on Monday and revealed that freshman quarterback Grayson Loftis is expected to make his second start. Leonard is out with a toe injury, missing extended time. Backup Henry Belin IV is sidelined with an upper-body injury.

Against Wake Forest, Loftis was 7-of-19 for 86 yards and a touchdown with one interception.  Loftis didn’t play bad at all and did throw his first career touchdown in the game.

For North Carolina, they have had struggles against backup quarterbacks over the years including last season losing to Georgia Tech and NC State at the end of the season to backups.  The Tar Heels will need to be careful again against a backup, especially with limited tape on him. Let’s hope UNC can close out Maye’s final home game with a win.

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