UNC in the NFL: Is Mack Hollins primed for a breakout year?

Mack Hollins could have a big season for the Philadelphia Eagles as long as he can stay healthy

The 2017 season will be tough to top for wide receiver Mack Hollins. The former University of North Carolina Tar Heels receiver was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and went on to win a Super Bowl as the team beat the New England Patriots back in February.

Hollins found himself in a crowded receiver position in Philadelphia but still managed to contribute some in that historic season.

But as we enter 2018, Hollins could be a breakout guy on an Eagles offense that is led by quarterback Carson Wentz.

Hollins played in all 16 games for the Eagles in 2017, catching 16 of his 22 targets for 226 yards and a touchdown. Another offseason in the Eagles system should help him this year.

As the Eagles opened up training camp last week,  the team has a lot of veteran receivers with Hollins being the youngest of the group. The Eagles receiving core is as follows: Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Mike Wallace, Mack Hollins, Kamar Aiken, Marquess Wilson and Markus Wheaton.

If we had to guess now, Hollins is likely to make this roster and could be a contender to grab that No. 3 spot barring any injury.

With the injury to Alshon Jeffery causing him to be put on the PUP list, Hollins is getting reps with the first team according to Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com:

"We should probably mention that Mack Hollins is getting a lot of first-team reps with Alshon Jeffery on the PUP list. There’s isn’t too much to note there, good or bad, but it has to be a confidence boost for Hollins to be playing every down with the cool kids."

He’s not only getting those reps but it sounds like he’s having a pretty good camp so far as a wide receiver and on special teams:

The Eagles had one of the best offenses in all of football last year and this year really shouldn’t be any different.As long as Wentz stays healthy the Eagles will be the team to beat in the NFC.

Hollins could assert himself as a key part of that lineup by having a really good training camp and preseason. He showed that he has good hands and big-play ability at UNC and even caught a long touchdown pass from Wentz last year for his only score of the season.

We will get our first look at Hollins and the Eagles this year when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 9th.

For more on Hollins and other UNC players in the NFL, please check back with Keeping It Heel.