Top UNC Football players for 2017: No. 5 Cole Holcomb
Keeping It Heel continues its countdown of the top 25 players on the North Carolina Tar Heels roster with player No. 5
#25 Noah Ruggles | #24 Tomon Fox | #23 Jordan Cunningham | #22 Tyler Powell
#21 Brandon Fritts | #20 Jonah Melton | #19 Stanton Truitt | #18 Myles Dorn
#17 Cayson Collins | #16 Michael Carter | #15 Tom Sheldon | #14 JT Cauthen
#13 Aaron Crawford | #12 Johnathon Sutton | #11 Juval Mollette | #10 Jalen Dalton
#9 Donnie Miles | #8 Thomas Jackson | #7 Brandon Harris | #6 Bentley Spain
Keeping It Heel continues to count down the weeks until college football season by revealing our list of the top 25 UNC players for the upcoming season.
The college football season kicks off in about five weeks, and it will be here before we know it. NFL training camp has begun, with the first preseason game right around the corner.
So what better way to get into the football mood than getting a sneak peek at the future of the Tar Heels.
Let’s take a look at player No. 5, a former walk-on linebacker who led the team in tackles last season.
Position: Will Linebacker
Hometown: New Smyrna Beach, Florida
High School: New Smyrna Beach
Last Season: Holcomb finished last season with 115 tackles, five for loss, and five passes deflected. He also had a sack. Again, those 115 tackles were more than any other Tar Heel last year. He also finished with six double digit tackle games last season.
Holcomb’s best game came against Florida State. In the win over the Seminoles, Holcomb help lead the way finishing with a season high 13 tackles. It was his first double digit tackle game of the season.
Why he might move up this list: Not really sure how much further he could jump up this list, but Holcomb could become even more of a tackling machine this season.
Also depending on how new defensive coordinator John Pauchis, his former linebacker coach, uses him, Holcomb could see an increase in sacks if he is asked to rush the passer more this season.
Why he might move down this list: There is a chance that Holcomb doesn’t have the same impact on the field and still have a great season. A lot of that has to do with a defense that is loaded with talent and experience and is overdue to make an impact for this team.
If that is the case and UNC gets some stops this year, then it is very likely that Holcomb may see less overall tackles, though he might see an uptick in other areas.
Prediction: Holcomb has shown he has a nose for the ball. If he can transition that nose to some interceptions and sacks, he could be in for a huge year.
Holcomb finishes the season with 125 tackles, four sacks, and an interception, once again leading the Tar Heels in total tackles.