Editor’s note: This is the ninth of an 11-part series looking around ACC football this spring
UNC is coming off an eight win season.
Doesn’t sound too remarkable unless you recall the firestorm that was July and August (and basically all season) for Butch Davis and co. with not one but two NCAA investigations into the program.
Davis is back for 2011, and so are 15 starters from the Music City Bowl champs.
Defensively, the Tar Heels have some holes to fill from what was supposed to be an all-star defense in 2010.
On the other side of field, T.J. Yates is out, Bryn Renner is in to run the show at QB with an experienced running back behind him in Ryan Houston and his 18 career touchdowns.
Renner is set at WR with quite possibly the ACC’s best receiver corps in Dwight Jones, Jheranie Boyd and Erik Highsmith.
More on the Tar Heels…
North Carolina
Returning Starters by Position
Offense (6)
QB: N/A
RB: N/A
FB: 1 (7 starts)
WR: 2 (30 career starts)
O-line: 3 (54 career starts)
Defense (7)
D-line: 4 (45 career starts)
LB: 1 (20 career starts)
DB: 2 (26 career starts)
Kicker/Punter (2)
PK: 1 (36 career starts)
P: 1 (12 career starts)
Outgoing Starters: 10
2010 Record: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)
Offensive Leader: WR Dwight Jones – A name all too familiar to Tiger fans that pay attention to recruiting, Jones had 62 receptions for 946 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2010.
Defensive Leader: DT/DE Quinton Coples – Coples was third in the ACC with 10 sacks and finished 7th in the ACC in tackles for loss with 15.5.
Key Issues This Spring: 1) New QB – After a bit of QB competition in 2010, T.J. Yates won the job out-right last season, but it’s redshirt sophomore Bryn Renner’s show now (though Davis hasn’t named him the starter yet).
2) Ryan Houston back – With all of the NCAA investigations ongoing, Houston had to sit for most of the 2010 season – leading UNC to redshirt him. He returns after putting up 713 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns in 2009.
3) Replacing defensive stars – Whether it’s Quan Sturdivant or Bruce Carter or Kendric Burney or Deunta Williams – that’s a lot of star power to fill in this season. Finding answers at the linebacker spot will be the factor in if this defense can put UNC in position to win games this year.
More Around ACC Spring Football
Atlantic
Coastal
Clemson Baseball Senior Day vs FSU
Clemson May 2012 Graduation
Final Home Game: Clemson 9, Furman 2
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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