The 2008 season seems to show signs of a turnaround year, and it could be a significant one given the current nature of the ACC conference as a whole. The conference has been considered as possibly the weakest of the six major conferences in recent years and seems to be up for grabs this season as well. The star-studded class of 2007, one of the best in UNC history, has now had a full year to learn Davis’ system and the speed of the college game. Add to that a slew of new talent from the 2008 class and you’ve got a recipe for improvement and possibly, finally, a winning record or a bowl game.
Offensively, the Tar Heels have been hampered by injuries thus far, but have managed to squeak by for the most part. In 2007, their starting quarterback T.J. Yates finished third in the ACC conference with 221.2 passing yards per game and passed for a UNC single-season record 2,655 yards. They will be very happy to have their leader back in the next couple of weeks as Yates has been out because of a broken ankle. Helping Yates and new starting quarterback Cameron Sexton has been outstanding wideout Hakeem Nicks, who had almost 1,000 yards receiving in 2007 (958 yards) and Brandon Tate, who had 479 yards receiving on just 25 receptions (19.2 yard avg.). The load is now squarely on the shoulders of Nicks, however, after Tate will now miss the rest of the season with torn ligaments in his knee. The two players have combined for 7 receiving touchdowns this season and, when healthy, are one of the most dangerous receiving duos in the ACC, if not the country. Converted running back Greg Little, who was originally recruited as a wide receiver, may have to make a move back to his receiver position to help out Sexton and the thinned receiving corps. This may not be a huge problem, however, considering how well sophomore and converted safety Shaun Draughn has run the ball in the last couple of games.
On defense, the Tar Heels are young, but heavy on talent. The strength of the defense is found in the secondary where Trimane Goddard and Deunta Williams form one of the best cornerback tandems in the nation. Goddard is a playmaker and All-ACC performer who will likely be a day one pick in the 2009 NFL Draft while all Williams did last year was tally 57 tackles and lead the team with 3 interceptions. Add to that the hard-hitting ways of sophomore Kendric Burney and you have a recipe for disaster for opposing offenses. Williams also earned freshman All-American honors from Rivals.com and Scout.com as well as being named an all-conference player and Sporting News defensive rookie of the year in the ACC. Tavorris Jolly is also a young, talented player in the defensive backfield for the Tar Heels. If people thought that the defensive backs were scary, imagine how they feel about the linebackers and the way they are playing this season. At linebacker, Quan Sturdivant was also named a freshman All-ACC performer racking up 47 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and a blocked punt to boot. Speaking of blocked punts, linebacker Bruce Carter has been an absolute dynamo when it comes to special teams play this year and already has tallied 5 blocked kicks! Question marks for the defense have been a little more common concerning the Tar Heels defensive line, however. Hilee Taylor and Kentwan Balmer are both currently in the NFL and virtually the only proven player has been sophomore tackle Marvin Austin, one of the most heralded recruits to ever step foot in Chapel Hill. Heading into this year’s spring practices, the Tar Heels only had three scholarship athletes at the defensive end position so the team must find ways to get to the quarterback if they want to have a shot at making a bowl game this year. The Heels coaches can sleep a little more easily knowing that true freshman defensive end Robert Quinn has done remarkable things as a first-year player and stepped up big time, even after a brain tumor last fall almost ended his football career.
So, for now, the descent down the mountain for the Tar Heels is put on hold. The dreaded sixth win for bowl eligibility still looms largely in front of them. Can they find a way to climb this next daunting peak standing in their path and make it to brighter days? They have a crew that is more than capable, that’s for sure.
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