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UNC Football: Tar Heels suspend 13 players after self-reporting NCAA violation

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Larry Fedora of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches during their game against the California Golden Bears at Kenan Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Cal won 35-30. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Larry Fedora of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches during their game against the California Golden Bears at Kenan Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Cal won 35-30. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Football program announced the suspension of 13 players on Monday after they self-reported a secondary violation to the NCAA months ago

At least 13 University of North Carolina Tar Heels football players wont be available for the team’s opening game against the Cal Golden Bears on September 1, the school announced on Monday.

Just weeks after news broke that the UNC Football program self-reported secondary NCAA violations, they handed down game suspension punishments ranging from one game to four games. Players from the football team sold team-issued Air Jordan 3 shoes that were specifically for the football program according to the violations.

A total of nine players will miss four games from the suspensions including quarterback Chazz Surratt. The sophomore quarterback entered this year battling for the starting job with Nathan Elliott and Jace Ruder after showing positive signs last season.

Defensive line starters Tomon Fox and Malik Carney are two of the players that will miss four games for the Tar Heels. UNC’s depth is deep on the defensive line, but the team will certainly miss both Fox and Carney.

Other players suspended four games: Brian Anderson, Beau Corrales, Quiroz Johnson, Jordan Tucker, Tyrone Hopper, and Malik Robinson.

Defensive backs Greg Ross and Tre Shaw as well as quarterback Jack Davidson have been suspended two games. Offensive lineman Jonah Melton has been suspended one game.

UNC did request that both Fox and Carney’s suspensions be split up due to player safety concerns according to Inside Carolina. The NCAA approved the request with Carney missing games against ECU, UCF, Pitt and Virginia Tech. Fox will miss games against Miami, Syracuse, Virginia and Georgia Tech.

Obviously this isn’t good news but the program knew this was coming. Anytime you have 13 players suspended, there’s some panic. Losing Surratt is a tough one because the Tar Heels will be down a quarterback if Elliott gets hurt in the first four games and would have to turn to the freshman Ruder.

Carney and Fox are two impact players on the defense but like mentioned before, UNC has a lot of depth on the line this year. It might be the one position they could afford to lose a player or two if needed.

Inside Carolina also reported that the shoes sold anywhere from $150 to $2,500 with most of the players being able to retrieve the shoes. In all, the University received 175 pairs of the special Air Jordan 3 for the program.

Next. Who has big play ability for the Tar Heels?. dark

The Tar Heels are currently in training camp as they prepare for the upcoming season and Monday’s news certainly wasn’t positive as they try to focus on football. For more coverage of the Tar Heels football program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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