ACC Spring Football Wrap: North Carolina

UNC is one of many ACC schools on Clemson's schedule replacing their QB...

Reviewing Key Spring Issues: 1) New QB – RS sophomore Bryn Renner left little doubt he’s the man for the Tar Heels with a 9/13 for 123 yards passing day in the spring game – throwing a TD as well.

2) Ryan Houston back – Well, it didn’t last long – Houston had to have scapula surgery after the spring game and is out for four months to rehab (meaning a mid-August return).

3) Replacing defensive stars – Tabbed Quinton Coples as UNC’s top defensive player coming back, and he didn’t disappoint with 5 tackles and a sack to close out the final scrimmage of spring practice. RS sophomore CB Josh Hunter also impressed with an interception and 4 tackles.

Spring MVP: QB Bryn Renner (RS sophomore, 6-3 210, 1/2 for 14 career passing yards)

Breakout Offensive Player: WR Erik Highsmith (Junior, 6-3 185, 773 receiving yards and 5 TDs in career)

Breakout Defensive Player: CB Josh Hunter (RS sophomore, 6-2 185, 2 career tackles)

Key Injuries: RB Ryan Houston (out until mid-August), .

Spring Game Notes: 1) Renner on display – Taking over for a four-year starter in T.J. Yates, Renner was one of a few new QBs of the ACC to shine in the spring game. He had a solid 69.2 percent completion percentage and connected with top target Dwight Jones five times for 56 yards.

2) Run game non-existent – The leading rusher was backup QB Marquise Williams and that all came on a 42-yard scramble. With Houston being UNC’s lone RB with experience, the scapula injury keeping him from football until August only hurts a questionable position for the Tar Heels.

3) Coples leads impressive d-line – As referenced above, Quinton Coples led the Tar Heels in tackles and sacks – fellow defensive end Kareem Martin added 4 tackles of his own.

Quotable: Butch Davis on running back situation - "We're in kind of uncharted territory at running back. We've lost Anthony Elzy, Johnny White and Shaun Draughn, and those three guys probably took 95 percent of the playing reps over the previous four seasons, and so we're going through some trials and experimentation with some young running backs, and I think that that clearly will not be settled until we get into training camp."

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