Former UNC DE Donte Paige-Moss

When Donte Paige-Moss was signed by Butch Davis Tar Heel fans were excited that another five star defensive end was joining the UNC football family. Many pundits clamored he would be the next Julius Peppers, Robert Quinn, Greg Ellis or any other big time pass rusher you can remember for UNC.  For Donte Paige-Moss that hype never developed, but people keep discussing him unfortunately for things outside the lines of the football field.

Making it to the NFL and competing for a roster spot is a dream millions of kids across America dream of every year.  Seeing someone who has the ability to make it yet makes decisions off the field that can jeopardize their chances is disheartening.  One day I hope DPM realizes what an opportunity he had in attending the University of North Carolina, and he can council a young kid to do things differently.  After a sophomore year where he registered 77 tackles and 7 sacks he was set up to have a monster junior season.  The stage was set if he played as good or better the chances of being  high draft pick was sure thing. Then the season of 2011 arrived with the firing of Butch Davis and a fourth defensive line coach in less than a year.

When John Blake was fired a interim coach was hired, then in January another coach was hired/resigned within weeks leaving the Heels looking for another defensive line coach.  None of this has anything to do with some of the decisions DPM made, but more continuity could have helped the talented defensive linemen.  Whatever was the issue DPM had a junior season where he only recorded 29 tackles and 2 sacks, and Kareem Martin emerged as the more consistent player with 40 tackles and 4 sacks.

Character issues have been a question with Paige-Moss since his Freshmen year. He was involved in two fights during his three years at UNC, and the tweets he put out about the University and it’s fans during the bowl game was the icing on the cake for most fans.  After tearing his ACL he ripped UNC fans and the bowl they were at and this allegedly occurred while his teammates were still playing.

Many questioned if Paige-Moss could play for coach Fedora, and his critics will never know because Paige-Moss declared for the NFL draft.  Entering the draft with a year of eligibility and a torn ACL at the end of your junior season was a decision that i would have not advised for any player, but he must have had his reasons.  Draft day came and went without anyone hearing DPM’s name get called, and he has yet to get signed as an undrafted free agent.

According to WRAL in Raleigh NC,  Paige-Moss  “was charged with speeding, reckless driving to endanger and driving while impaired in Orange County.”  I hope this is wake up call to Donte Paige-Moss because he still has the ability to play one day in the NFL, but the road traveled to get there will completely different than his road to Chapel Hill.  No longer a five star prospect DPM will have earn his way like walk on at a college program.  The chances of making it now are dwindling with every passing month after a player finishes their playing days.  The NFL is a place where many players who have made questionable decisions in college go on to have long sustaining pro careers.  Can DPM be one of these players? Only time will tell, but first he must get his life in order before he can worry about playing a game.