UNC Football: How Good Can Bryn Renner Be?

Sep 22, 2012; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Bryn Renner (2) looks to pass during the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

Your first thoughts may be, “Easy. Bryn Renner can be as good as he wants to be. End of discussion.” Well, I am here to inform you that you are correct; however, it is isn’t that easy. In my opinion, Renner has the potential to become one of the best quarterbacks ever at Carolina. He has several teammates who are good enough to make to the NFL. In addition, he has a system that is conducive to him being successful. So, what will it take for Bryn Renner to be viewed as one of the best quarterbacks?

First, Bryn Renner has to win the big games. 99.9% of Tar Heel Nation believes that Carolina should be undefeated right now. I am one of these people. UNC lost to Wake Forest by one point, and they lost to Louisville by a touchdown. Close games have the potential to make or break some individuals’ careers, and you got it, Bryn is one of those people. Bryn is on pace to surpass what he averaged last season. In 2011, he completed 239 out of 350 passes for a total 3,086 yards. His completion percentage was 68.3% with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Currently, Renner has totals of completing 90 out of 144 pass attempts for 1,191 yards, at a passing percentage of 62.5% with 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. This is good, but for him to be viewed as one of the best quarterbacks he has to get better.

Second, Bryn has to complete difficult throws. Against Louisville, Bryn was a machine in the second half. He threw for 5 touchdowns during this game; however, his last incomplete pass was a big one. I cannot even blame Renner or Highsmith on that one. Louisville played great defense. In the four games played this season, there have been times when he overthrew a player who was wide open. He did this to Eric Ebron at least once on this past Saturday. In fact, he has a few incomplete passes each game where he does this.

In 1997, Carolina was ranked #3 in the nation. The only loss the Tar Heels had that season came to Florida State, who beat UNC 20-3. The Heels #2 ranked defense may have held the ‘Noles to 20 points (which was actually good in a weird way), but the offense could not score a touchdown. This game would have put Carolina in the National Championship, but the Tar Heels didn’t show up. Chris Keldorf was the quarterback. He had an array of weapons that included wide receivers Octavus Barnes and Na Brown (who had a short stint with the Philadelphia Eagles), tight end Alge Crumpler (who played for several teams in the NFL for over a decade), running back Johnathan Linton (who had a short stint with the Buffalo Bills), and a center in Jeff Saturday (longtime Indianapolis Colt player who played a pivotal role in negotiations with owners the a year ago). Keldorf had all the weapons, but during the biggest game of his career, he was shut down. Message to Bryn Renner: bring it every game. Sometimes, the big game will determine how you are viewed for the rest of your collegiate career.

In closing, I think that Bryn Renner is just as good as Darian Durant, Ronald Curry, Jason Stanicek, Chris Keldorf, and T.J. Yates. All of these players broke records at Carolina, but only two of them made it to the NFL. Yates was the only one to play the quarterback position at the next level.