2008 North Carolina Tar Heels Preview

When Butch Davis became North Carolina’s head coach in November 2006, he took over a program full of potential but stocked with players who lacked experience. Growing pains were inevitable, and the result for the Tar Heels was a 4–8 record in Davis’ first season.

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Tar Heels

North Carolina took a big step forward defensively last season, posting its best finish in total yards allowed (No. 35 nationally) since 2001. A major key to this season is whether the offense can follow suit. UNC, which has not finished in the nation’s top 100 in total offense since 2004, has been hurt by an inability to run the ball effectively. The Tar Heels averaged 99.2 yards per game on the ground last season, a number that must rise in 2008 if they are to take pressure off their passing game and keep their defense rested. Tailback Greg Little showed big-time ability in his two starts last season, and he has an experienced right side of the offensive line to run behind, so improvement is a realistic possibility. In terms of their schedule, the Tar Heels finally catch something resembling a break. They once again must navigate a tough non-conference slate, which features Rutgers, Connecticut and Notre Dame, but they get the benefit of missing Clemson, Florida State and Wake Forest in conference play. In addition, two of UNC’s four ACC road games come against teams that didn’t play in a bowl game last season. If the Tar Heels crank up their running game and find a reliable kicker, they should find themselves in position to contend for their first bowl berth since 2004.

The record notwithstanding, UNC showed significant progress. Twenty-eight freshmen saw their first game action in 2007, and the Tar Heels proved that they could compete in the ACC even if they weren’t yet ready to win. UNC played nine games decided by seven points or fewer, but the team was able to win only three of those contests.

With 43 lettermen returning, the Tar Heels have a better understanding of their capabilities and the challenges that lie ahead in 2008. “I think the biggest thing this year is that one year of experience,” says sophomore safety Deunta Williams, the ACC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007. “We didn’t know exactly what we could do last year. So going out there and proving it to ourselves, we feel like we can only improve.”

Davis is counting on it. He hired a new defensive coordinator, Everett Withers, after Chuck Pagano headed back to the NFL, but the rest of Davis’ staff remains intact. Now that the coaches know what the players can do and the players know what the coaches want them to do, it’s full speed ahead in Chapel Hill.

“We’ve come a lot farther than we were a year ago,” Davis says. “Because the players have a basis now, and they understand the schemes and the defenses and the protections and the coverages and those kinds of things, now they’re playing faster. They’re not always having to think. The wheel isn’t always spinning with everybody.”

Quarterbacks

T.J. Yates won the starting job last season as a redshirt freshman and proceeded to exceed all reasonable expectations, throwing for a school-record 2,655 yards and establishing school freshman records for completions, attempts and yardage. Yates missed spring practice after having surgery on his throwing shoulder, but he is expected to be healthy heading into training camp. Yates showed toughness and the ability to throw a nice deep ball, but he must improve his decision-making after tossing 18 interceptions last season. Highly touted passer Mike Paulus, who redshirted as a freshman in 2007, and junior Cameron Sexton split the reps during the spring and will push Yates for playing time.

Running backs

UNC’s coaches spent much of 2007 searching for a feature back, but they couldn’t settle on an answer. Little did they know, the solution was on their roster at another position. Greg Little moved from wide receiver to tailback for UNC’s final two games and totaled 243 yards on 50 carries, including the game-winning touchdown run in overtime against Duke. With Johnny White (team-high 399 rushing yards last season) now at cornerback, Little will have a much bigger role. Sophomores Anthony Elzy and Ryan Houston are capable runners, especially between the tackles, but Little’s combination of size, speed and pass-catching ability should keep him on the field most of the time. “Greg legitimately adds a highlight almost every single practice where he does something unique,” Davis says.

Receivers

Even with Little now running the ball instead of catching it, the Tar Heels have plenty of weapons in the passing game. Junior Hakeem Nicks, who established a single-season school record with 74 receptions in 2007, is one of the top wide receivers in the conference. He has great hands and is a load for defensive backs to bring down. Senior Brandon Tate (19.2 yards per catch in 2007) gives UNC one of the league’s top deep threats, and senior Brooks Foster is adept at working the middle of the field from the slot. When the Tar Heels go to four-receiver sets — unusual because John Shoop’s offense employs a tight end or H-back almost every play — they can turn to 6'4" Kenton Thornton or 6'5" Rashad Mason.

Offensive linemen

Davis likes the depth UNC is developing up front, and he’s fortunate to have all but one starter (center Scott Lenahan) returning in this unit. The strength of UNC’s line should be the right side, where seniors Garrett Reynolds and Calvin Darity enter their third year starting together. Reynolds sets the tone for everyone with his high-octane motor at right tackle, and Darity has made 24 consecutive starts at right guard. Junior Aaron Stahl moves over to center from left guard, with senior Bryon Bishop as the frontrunner to replace him. Junior Kyle Jolly is back at left tackle to protect Yates’ blind side. After having three offensive line coaches in three seasons, the Tar Heels should be able to develop more consistency in their second season under Sam Pittman.

Defensive linemen

The Tar Heels must replace two of the ACC’s best defensive linemen in tackle Kentwan Balmer and end Hilee Taylor. UNC is well-stocked at defensive tackle for years to come with pass-rushing Marvin Austin, run-stuffing Cam Thomas and developing contributors Aleric Mullins and Tydreke Powell, but defensive end presents some question marks. Junior E.J. Wilson finished second on the team with five sacks last season and showed a nose for the ball with two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble, but he needs help as he tries to match Taylor’s lost production. Sophomores Greg Elleby, Darrius Massenburg and Darius Powell, who combined for one sack in 2007, will be counted on for more this season. Elleby and Massenburg can play the run and the pass, while Powell is a speed rusher who enters the game in obvious passing situations.

Linebackers

This unit has lacked talent and depth of late. The situation was so dire last year that Davis took two of his most athletic freshmen, Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant, and moved them to linebacker even though they never had played the position before. The Tar Heels should be more experienced and productive at linebacker this season even without Durell Mapp, who graduated after finishing second in the ACC in tackles in 2007. Carter and Sturdivant will be improved after learning on the run as freshmen, and Chase Rice should be healthy after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the first game last season. Also in the mix are senior Mark Paschal, who played well when given the chance last season, converted tight end Ryan Taylor, and juniors Wesley Flagg and Kennedy Tinsley. The Heels signed a trio of impressive linebackers in Zach Brown, Ebele Okakpu and Kevin Reddick. If those freshmen prove to be better than the linebackers UNC already has, Davis won’t hesitate to play them.

Defensive backs

UNC’s inexperience last season was especially evident at this position, where the team started three redshirt freshmen and a junior. But the secondary should be much improved in 2008, with senior Trimane Goddard and Williams lining up as standout safeties behind cornerbacks Charles Brown and Kendric Burney. Davis added depth to the cornerback position by moving Richie Rich and White from tailback, but UNC also would benefit from a healthy season for junior Jordan Hemby. Hemby has suffered several injuries during his career, including a torn ACL in 2006, but he has the talent to be a contributor.

Specialists

This area has been a strength for UNC in recent years, but the team must replace some key players this season. Connor Barth, who kicked a school-record 54 field goals over the last four years, is gone. So are holder Ryan Baucom and deep snapper Michael Murphy. The kicking chores could fall to redshirt freshman Jay Wooten. UNC’s return game is on much more stable ground. Tate already has broken the ACC career record for kickoff return yards, and he has scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns and two on punt returns in his career. Punter Terrence Brown, who helped UNC finish fourth in the conference in net punting last season, also is back.

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