UNC Football: Five x-factors for Carolina in 2017

Quarterback Play

With no more Mitchell Trubisky, who will Carolina turn to under center? The answer is, we still don’t know.

A starter for week one has yet to be named, but according to Inside Carolina, team sources have made it seem like it’s a two man race between RS freshman Chazz Surratt and grad transfer Brandon Harris.

Harris, who only started two games at LSU last year, has career totals of 2,756 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

During his sophomore year, when he started all 12 games, he led LSU to a 9-3 record with 2,165 yards 13 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns.

Harris isn’t a gunslinger like Trubisky, or even like Marquise Williams, but he is extremely athletic and quick, so that will a different dynamic to the Heels quarterback play if he wins the starting job.

Surratt is a 6-foot-3, athlete who redshirted last year at Carolina.

From East Lincoln High School, he was named Parade All-America and Parade national player of the year as a senior. Also received the award for AP Offensive Player of the Year in the state of North Carolina.

He went on to break the state record for career total yards with 16,593, and also owns the state record for most touchdowns responsible for with 229.

Though he may not have the D-1 experience that Harris has, he has great upside and potential.

One thing he has over Brandon Harris; experience in the UNC system.

Harris who wasn’t able to enroll until after spring practice, obviously started behind the ball in terms of learning the playbook. Surratt though has over a year of learning the playbook.

For the Tar Heels future, Surratt is the better option as he will get great experience this year as the starter, but for this season, Harris seems to be the answer as he is the more skilled and experienced player.