North Carolina Tar Heels Team Preview 2009

July 25th, 2009 by Jeremy Shory

2008 overall record: 8-5

2008 conference record: 4-4

Returning starters: Offense: 6, Defense: 9, Punter/Kicker: 1

Top returns: QB T.J. Yates, TB Shaun Draughn, OT Kyle Jolly, DE E.J. Wilson, S Deunta Williams, CB Kendric Burney, LB Bruce Carter, LB Quan Sturdivant, DT Marvin Austin, DE Robert Quinn

Key losses: S Trimane Goddard, WR Hakeem Nicks, WR Brooks Foster, WR Brandon Tate, OT Garrett Reynolds, LB Mark Paschal, P Terrance Brown

Fall Fantasy Question

Wide receiver. Considering UNC’s leading career receiver is fullback Bobby Rome (31 receptions), the Tar Heels need somebody to catch the ball. That’s a question we might not know the answer to until a few weeks into the season. Greg Little, Joshua Adams and Dwight Jones were the leading candidates this spring.

Team Breakdown

QB Cameron Sexton (thanks Icon SMI)

Quarterback – The Tar Heels have the potential to be on top of this list if quarterback T.J. Yates can stay healthy. T.J Yates missed five games last season, but in games he played he had a 153.6 passer efficiency rating with a total 1,136 yards with 11 TDs and only 4 INT. Cameron Sexton is not a bad replacement if Yates ever has to leave a game for health reasons. Mike Paulus, the four-star 2007 recruit, has talent as well. This one will depend on health and WR play. 2008 Stats: Yates – 81 for 135, 1,168 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INT, 24 rushes for -67 yards, 1 TD. Sexton – 94 for 168, 1,261 yards, 9 TDs, 6 INT, 26 rushes for -96 yards, 1 TD.

ACC Rank – 2

Running Back – The Tar Heels have a nice one-two running back combination of their own. Shaun Draughn rushed for over 800 yards on just under 200 carries. Ryan Houston will be considered the hard-hitting between-the-tackles runner for the North Carolina. Last year, he scored eight touchdowns. Another top ACC running back from the recruiting class of 2008 is Jamal Womble, who could also vie for playing time. 2008 Stats: Draughn – 198 rushes for 866 yards, 3 TDs, 16 receptions for 81 yards, 1 TD. Houston – 77 rushes for 299 yards, 8 TDs.

ACC Rank – 6

Greg Little during a victory over the Hurricanes (thanks Icon SMI)

Wide Receiver – The Tar Heels literally had a NFL receiving group last season. Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, and Brooks Foster were all drafted in the recent NFL draft. Five of their top six WR’s are gone, so there are some question marks. 6-3 Junior Greg Little returns in the WR position after playing running back last season. 6-4 sophomore Dwight Jones had a very solid spring as did 6-4 Joshua Adams. 2008 Stats: Little – 11 for 146 yards.

ACC Rank – 8

Tight End – Zack Pianalto suffered through some injuries last year but is the likely starter at TE. The tight end may become a more significant option as this team looks to replace all of the star power that it lost at receiver. 2008 Stats: None to report.

ACC Rank – 9

Defense - The good news for North Carolina is that amidst all of the losses on offense, they lost only two starting players on defense. The problem with that is they lost two of their biggest playmakers on that side of the ball in safety Trimane Goddard and linebacker Mark Paschal. They do however, return linebacker Quan Sturdivant, and both defensive ends; E.J. Wilson and Robert Quinn. The defense should be able to keep this team in games early on while the offense continues to work out the replacements for all of the losses at wide out.

ACC Rank – 2

Kicker/Special Teams – Watch for a competition in the kicking game this summer between Casey Barth and Jay Wooten. Both are sophomores and had identical stats. Both were 100% in extra points and 67% in field goal accuracy. Barth got the majority of the touches last year, but now that it is known Wooten can do an equally decent job, watch for them to duke it out a little. Watch for Shaun Draughn to handle some of the return duties that was handled last year by probably the best receiving group in the country. 2008 Stats: Barth – 33 for 33 extra points, 10 for 15 field goals, longest field goal was 42 yards. Wooten – 11 for 11 extra points, 4 for 6 field goals, longest field goal was 43 yards.

ACC Rank – 5

2009 Schedule

Sept. 5 The Citadel
Sept. 12 at Connecticut
Sept. 19 East Carolina
Sept. 26 at Georgia Tech
Oct. 3 Virginia
Oct. 10 Georgia Southern
Oct. 22 Florida State
Oct. 29 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 7 Duke
Nov. 14 Miami
Nov. 21 at Boston College
Nov. 28 at NC State

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