UNC Football: Austin Proehl’s season, career with Tar Heels in jeopardy

Austin Proehl injury the latest in a slew of bad fortune for Tar Heels

Most would agree that the North Carolina Tar Heels have endured more than their fair share of injuries for one season.

The fact that the team is just four weeks into its 2017 campaign simply adds insult to said injuries. And breeds hope to fans hoping to suit up for open tryouts.

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That’s just about where the team is at after seeing nine scholarship players go down with season-ending injuries through the first three games.

Things only got worse, though, when Tar Heels’ senior wide receiver Austin Proehl left in the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Duke with an apparent shoulder injury.

Proehl exited the game, and never returned, following a 47-yard reception off the hands of freshman quarterback Chazz Surratt.

Later in the first half, Proehl was seen on the sidelines wearing street clothes and a sling on his left arm. He was diagnosed with a broken left clavicle, an injury that could quite easily spell the end for the star receiver’s season and career with North Carolina.

Also injured in Saturday’s game was freshman wideout Rontavius Groves, who was finally healthy and playing in his first college game. Groves went down with a knee injury in the second half and was subsequently carted off of the field in obvious pain.

The Tar Heels have suffered widespread loss on both sides of the ball this season, but with multiple likely season-ending injuries to the receiving corps in just one game, the team is left with very few options for the promising but inexperienced Surratt.

After losing a talented group of receivers from last season that included Ryan Switzer, Mack Hollins and Bug Howard, Proehl was the team’s best and most experienced option downfield. His 16 receptions and 270 yards receiving lead the team this season.

After his injury against the Blue Devils, though, it’s likely that Proehl, and his 1,198 career receiving yards, are finished for the season.

Coincidentally, it was a broken left clavicle that ended the season, and career, of former UNC deep threat Mack Hollins just a year ago.

Injuries have defined the Tar Heels’ first month of the season and will undoubtedly play a huge role in their success, or lack thereof, throughout conference play.

Related Story: Tar Heels fall to Duke in Chapel Hill

Stick with Keeping It Heel for updates on Proehl, Groves and the dozen or so players left on the team who aren’t injured yet.