Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 127 BY BRYAN DRISKELL North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora seemed on the verge of building the Tar Heels into an ACC powerhouse, but a disappointing 2016 season and significant personnel losses have stalled that growth. Fedora led UNC to an 11-3 record, a trip to the ACC title game and a No. 15 national finish in 2015, but despite the presence of quar- terback Mitch Trubisky — the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft — the Tar Heels went 8-5 in 2016, losing three of their final four games. Trubisky wasn't the only loss. Carolina lost more than 70 percent of its receiving produc- tion and all but 19 yards of its rushing attack. "Just about every starting spot on offense is entirely up for grabs because only a few players return that have much experience, es- pecially at the skill positions," said Andrew Jones, publisher of TarHeelIllustrated.com. "North Carolina's [returning] running backs have carried the ball a total of 20 times in their careers … and the quarterbacks have attempted just two passes versus FBS teams." Auburn graduate transfer Stanton Truitt is expected to help out a depleted backfield, and senior receivers Austin Proehl, Thomas Jackson and Jordan Cunningham will get the first crack at rebuilding the receiving corps, although the Tar Heels have high hopes for a talented young pass catcher. "Juval Moellete is a former four-star wide receiver who has the specs of a big-time player," Jones said of the sophomore wideout. "Watch him in warmups and he looks like a star, but he's struggled some learning how to be a college receiver. … Sources say that's changed and he's primed to break out." Replacing the 133 graduated starts from the offensive line is daunting, but North Carolina seems poised to overcome those departures. Senior Bentley Spain is the veteran and leader up front; he'll be joined by guard Tommie Hat- ten and a group of players that include USC transfer Khaliel Rodgers and Florida transfer Cameron Dillard. "It may not be as difficult as one might ex- pect," Jones said of rebuilding the line. "Each of the departed players played below expecta- tions for most or parts of last season. The group is fairly young, but it's more talented than what UNC has had along the line." If the Tar Heels get the line on track, a bounce-back season could be in the cards. ✦ 2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2016 Result Sept. 2 California — Sept. 9 Louisville — Sept. 16 at Old Dominion — Sept. 23 Duke L, 28-27 Sept. 30 at Georgia Tech W, 48-20 Oct. 7 Notre Dame — Oct. 14 Virginia W, 35-14 Oct. 21 at Virginia Tech L, 34-3 Oct. 28 Miami (Fla.) W, 20-13 Nov. 9 at Pittsburgh W, 37-36 Nov. 18 Western Carolina — Nov. 25 at North Carolina State L, 28-21 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 17-2 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 50, North Carolina 43 (Oct. 11, 2014; South Bend) Head Coach: Larry Fedora, 40-25 (6th year) and 74-44 overall (10th year) 2016 Results: 8-5 overall, 5-3 ACC (T-2nd Coastal); Lost to Stanford 25-23 in the Sun Bowl Returning Starters: 12 (5 offense, 7 defense) 2017 Preseason Rankings: No. 35 by ESPN Football Power Index, No. 42 by Athlon and No. 45 by Lindy's Did You Know? Notre Dame is 12-0 all time at home against North Carolina and 4-2 in road contests … The Irish and Tar Heels combined for 93 points in the 2014 contest between the two programs, marking the most points ever scored in a game at Notre Dame Stadium … Sophomore offensive tackle Charlie Heck is the son of former Notre Dame All-American offensive tackle Andy Heck (1985-88). Prediction: Notre Dame 34, North Carolina 27 STRENGTH: Linebacker Under Fedora the offense understandably has received most of the attention, but the strength of the 2017 team could be the defense. North Carolina returns seven starters and should have an improved front and secondary. The best piece to the unit, however, will be the linebackers. North Carolina returns three linebackers with 37 career starts among them. Junior middle line- backer Andre Smith is the top returner, racking up 113 tackles and six stops behind the line of scrimmage. Smith had five games with at least 11 tackles and made a career-high 15 stops in a loss to Virginia Tech. Junior Cole Holcomb is a former walk-on who earned a scholarship prior to the 2016 season. Holcomb started all 13 games last year at out- side linebacker, and he led the Tar Heels with 115 tackles. Holcomb had at least 10 tackles in six of the last nine games of the season, with his career high of 13 coming in an upset road victory over Florida State. When North Carolina goes with a three-line- backer lineup it will insert senior Cayson Collins into the starting rotation. Cayson started six games last season and registered 60 tackles with four stops for loss. He finished the 2016 season with 10 tackles in North Carolina's Sun Bowl loss to Stanford, tying his career high. CONCERN: Quarterback North Carolina has received excellent production from its quarterbacks under Fedora, averaging 3,582 passing yards during his five years in Chapel Hill. Tar Heel quarterbacks have tossed 140 touch- downs against just 47 picks during his tenure. Fedora has been good at building the offense around the strengths of his quarterbacks, going with a more drop-back oriented attack with No. 2 overall draft pick Mitch Trubisky in 2016 after two years in which Marquise Williams rushed for 1,915 yards and 29 touchdowns. The problem for Fedora in 2017 is he has a back- field filled with incredibly inexperienced players. Redshirt freshmen Chazz Surratt and Logan Byrd competed during the spring, with Surratt the dual- threat quarterback and Byrd more of a drop-back passer. Those two will battle LSU graduate transfer Brandon Harris. Surratt and Byrd have more experience in Fedo- ra's system, but Harris made 15 starts and played in 25 games for the Tigers. A former Rivals100 re- cruit, Harris has always tantalized with his big-time arm strength, but his inability to throw accurately and make good decisions resulted in him losing his starting spot at LSU. Harris will get a lot of the publicity, but TarHeelIl- lustrated.com publisher Andrew Jones wouldn't be surprised if Byrd or Surratt ultimately wins the job. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS OCT. 7 • KENAN MEMORIAL STADIUM • CHAPEL HILL, NC RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: Jordon Brown (45 yards, 1 TD) Passing: Nathan Elliott (55 yards, 0 TD) Receiving: Austin Proehl (597 yards, 3 TD) Tackles: Cole Holcomb (115) Sacks: Malik Carney (5.5) Interceptions: Dominique Green (1) X-FACTOR: North Carolina lost more than 70 per- cent of its receptions, receiving yards and receiv- ing touchdowns from last year, which means senior Austin Proehl must improve upon his 43 catches for 597 yards and three scores in 2016. PHOTO BY DONNIE MILES/COURTESY UNC