UNC Football: The Tar Heels’ 2016 Season in Review
![Nov 25, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora (center) reacts to a call during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The Wolfpack won 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports Nov 25, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora (center) reacts to a call during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The Wolfpack won 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/663fbe36ddf37137b190b6c286db9d1295cefd8725a9d45c5b6b8c617c8e576c.jpg)
The rise of Mitch Trubisky
Last season, someone told me that Mitch Trubisky was better than Marquise Williams. I did not believe it; until this season.
It became a fact to me by the second or third game this season.
Although the Tar Heels did not perform as well as they did in 2015, they gained a better quarterback in Trubisky.
Trubisky is arguably the best quarterback ever to play at the University of North Carolina.
During the 2016 season, he set several records including:
- UNC single-game record with 30 consecutive pass completions against James Madison
- UNC record 243 completions consecutive pass attempts without an interception
- UNC single-season touchdown passing record (29)
- UNC single-season record for passing yards (3,748 yards)
Trubisky finished this season as a third-team all-ACC quarterback. He netted 453 passing yards against Pittsburgh on September 24, 2016. This statistic represents the second-highest single-game passing yards total in UNC history.
In this game, he threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Bug Howard with a few seconds left in the game.
Trubisky was the focal point of UNC’s offense in 2016. Due to his success, North Carolina finished the 2016 season ranked No. 1 in the ACC in passing efficiency (156.9 rating). UNC ranked third in the ACC in passing yards average (293.2 per game).
The 2016 season was Mitch Trubisky’s first season as a college football starting quarterback. And, it was his late season as one as well.
Trubisky decided to turn pro and make himself eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Several NFL mock drafts project Trubisky as the No. 1 rated quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Some draft boards believe that Trubisky will be selected as the overall 2017 No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
If this occurs, Trubisky will be known as a hometown hero since grew up outside of Cleveland, Ohio.