Tar Heels Tidbits: UNC football adds to staff, Bug Howard in Cleveland and more
By Zack Pearson
The second installment of “Tar Heels Tidbits” discusses Bug Howard’s new contract, a member joining the UNC football staff and much more
With basketball season in full swing, there is a lot of things going on with the University of North Carolina’s programs.
The Tar Heels opened up Atlantic Coast Conference play with a four-point win over Wake Forest, completing a comeback after trailing late in the game. The win moved them to 1-0 on the season but now a brutal two-game road trip looms.
As the basketball teams are in the swing of things, the Tar Heels’ football program is awaiting the next signing period.
The 2018 class is a big one for the Tar Heels as head coach Larry Fedora must reel in a good class.
Football
- The Tar Heels have added to their football staff. On Monday, the program announced the hiring of Tommy Thigpen as linebackers coach. He leaves his spot in Tennessee to join the Tar Heels staff. And that is good news for recruiting as Inside Carolina points out.
- Former UNC quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will have a new head coach as he enters his second NFL season in 2018 after the Bears fired John Fox.
- One of Trubisky’s former teammates, Bug Howard, has been signed to a futures/reserved contract by the Cleveland Browns. Howard will have the chance to compete for a job in the offseason.
- OL Lucas Crowly was added to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad on Tuesday morning.
Basketball
- We released our first ACC Basketball power rankings of the year. The conference is loaded this year, so this will certainly be something to watch as the weeks go on.
- UNC has opened as one-point favorites against Florida State, per IC’s Ross Martin.
- UNC Women’s freshman Janelle Bailey has been named the ACC Rookie of the Week.
🚨 ACC Rookie of the Week Award 🚨@janelle__bailey named the top rookie for the 4th time already this season!
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) January 2, 2018
Avg. 18 points and 7.5 rebounds last week for the Heels. pic.twitter.com/fybtziLRvH
Recruiting
- UNC recruit Jordyn Adams is participating in the US Army All-American Bowl this week. Here’s a video of him pulling in a touchdown in practice. One word: smooth.
Jurkovec to Jordyn Adams for the TD (Via @BGI_DMcKinney) pic.twitter.com/EhVlarp0zR
— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) January 2, 2018
- Speaking of recruiting. We have the latest on three big UNC football targets as signing day approaches.
- One of those targets, Williams Barnes is impressing at US Army All-American Game practice.
- Class of 2019 RB Devyn Ford is announcing his top 6 soon. He’s a UNC target.
- Matthew Hurt’s father updated his recruitment, as we wrote from Monday.
- Our first UNC Recruiting Roundup dropped on Monday as well.