2011 North Carolina Football Predictions
Written by Steve Janus
The North Carolina Tar Heels were hit hard with injuries and suspensions in 2010, but they still managed to go 7-5 (4-4 ACC) in the regular season. They added another win to their total with a 30-27 double-overtime win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. Head coach Butch Davis really deserves a lot of credit for how well this team played despite all the distractions. While the Tar Heels have just 13 starters back for the 2011 season, you have to give them an outside shot at winning the ACC Coastal and putting together their first nine win season since 1997.
To get a better feel for how the Tar Heels will perform in 2011, let’s take a look at who they will be sending to the field on both sides of the ball, plus I will give my prediction on where they will finish the year in the ACC.
Offense:
The Tar Heels biggest question mark heading into the 2011 season is who will take over at quarterback for T.J. Yates, who became the first quarterback in school history to throw for more than 3,000 yards (3,418). Yates also left the Tar Heels as the all-time leading passer with 9,377 yards. Heading into the fall it looks like sophomore Bryn Renner has the early edge on the starting job, but he is getting plenty of competition from junior Braden Hanson and freshman Marquise Williams.
North Carolina battled a number of injuries in the running game last year, and as a result they totaled just 126 yards a game on the ground. They head into this season without their top three rushers from last year, which could have this unit down again. Senior Ryan Houston is expected to take over the starting role, but also look for redshirt freshman Giovani Bernard and junior Hunter Ford to get plenty of carries as well.
While the Tar Heels will have a new quarterback and running back, they return some solid talent in the passing game. Senior Dwight Jones led the team with 62 catches for 946 yards and four touchdowns, and Erick Highsmith contributed 25 receptions for 348 yards and three scores. The guy that could really make a big impact this season is junior Jheranie Boyd, who had averaged a team-best 22.1 yards per catch in 2010. Redshirt freshman Sean Fitzpatrick is expected to take over at tight end, and could end up being a big part of the offense.
The Tar Heels have three starters back on the offensive line, and all three are near the top of the conference at their respective positions. Added to the mix will be junior Travis Bond at right guard and junior Brennan Williams at right tackle. This unit is massive as all five expected starters come in at 310 plus, which should allow them to open up some big holes for the running game.
Defense:
The Tar Heels lost defensive end Robert Quinn and defensive tackle Marvin Austin to suspensions before the season even started. It’s scary to think just how good they would have been if those two had got to play. With them out of the starting lineup it allowed some other players to get some playing time, and now the Tar Heels have all four starters back for the 2011 season. Senior defensive end Quinton Coples is one of the premier defensive ends in the country, and is coming off a 10 sack season. Senior defensive tackle Tydreke Powell and junior defensive end Donte Paige-Moss are also two of the elite players at their position in the ACC. This unit should have a monster season and will really make the seven guys behind them better.
At linebacker North Carolina returns junior middle linebacker Kevin Reddick, and senior outside linebacker Zach Brown. These two finished 1-2 in tackles last year, and should make a ton of plays again this season with all the attention the front four will receive. Look for sophomore transfer (William & Mary) Darius Lipford to take over at the other outside linebacker spot.
While the Tar Heels only true starter back in the secondary is senior corner Charles Brown, the other three starting spots will be taken over by players who started at least four games in 2010. Sophomore corner Jabari Price will team up on the outside with Brown, while senior Matt Merletti and sophomore Tre Boston take over at safety.
ACC Prediction: 3rd ACC Coastal - While the Tar Heels have enough talent on the defensive end to surprise everyone and win the Coastal, I think the loss of Yates is going to keep them from accomplishing that goal. If they do end up getting better quarterback play than expected, this team will be right there with Virginia Tech and Miami for the right to play in the ACC Championship Game.
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