UNC Football 2018 Season Position Preview: Tight Ends
We take a look at the UNC Football tight end corps and what to expect to this season
As we continue to count down the days until the start of the 2018 college football season, we take a look at the tight end position, and what the Tar Heels can expect from their big pass catchers this year.
An unfortunate preseason injury to Brandon Fritts is obviously a blow to the Tar Heels’ game plan in the early goings of the new season, but a talented core of young tight ends yields hope for Larry Fedora and the North Carolina offense.
The indefinite timeline attached to the Fritts injury will force Carl Tucker to step into a leading role for the Tar Heels. The offense will likely lean heavily on his big hands, and ability to catch balls in short yardage situations.
2017 Review
Last year, Fritts played in 10 games and caught 25 passes for 177 yards and four touchdowns. Fritts’ four touchdowns matched his total in 2015, and he was a likely starter this season before tearing his ACL during spring practice.
Tucker, who started four games in 2017 before a season-ending injury put him on the shelf for the team’s final eight games, caught six passes for 100 yards. He looked good in the games he participated in, and appeared ready to take on a larger role in the Tar Heels’ offense.
Depth Chart
Brandon Fritts (out indefinitely) – Fritts is probably the team’s best tight end and No. 1 option at the position, but a (likely) season-ending ACL injury will keep him out of the UNC rotation.
Carl Tucker – Tucker is healthy and ready to take over the lead tight end spot for the Tar Heels in 2018. He’s a good pass catcher and capable blocker. He’ll be expected to produce for North Carolina this season.
Jack Bargas – The junior tight end caught eight passes last season for 72 yards with a long of 23. He’ll have an opportunity to get more snaps this season, and could separate himself from the other UNC backups in the process.
Garrett Walston – Walston is a sophomore tight end that appeared in one game last season and accumulated no stats. He’ll have more opportunities in year two, particularly if the Fritts injury spans the course of the season.
Jared Worley – The junior tight end accumulated no stats in 2017.
Noah Turner – Turner is a sophomore tight end that got no playing time in 2017, but will look for more opportunities during his second year in Chapel Hill.
Biggest Impact?
Tucker is the tight end that will have the biggest impact on the Tar Heels’ offense this year. His ability to run the field and catch passes, combined with the heavy workload he’ll likely have, should result in his best college campaign to date.
At 6-foot-2 and 255 pounds, Tucker has good size and will also contribute on the Tar Heels’ offensive line as a blocker. He will definitely get some run as a safety valve in the UNC offense, but will also double as a decoy at times. If he has a good season, it could increase the effectiveness of North Carolina’s receiving corps, particularly Anthony Ratliff-Williams.
What to Expect?
Tucker should put together a nice season in 2018, especially if the Fritts injury lasts the duration of the season. Nathan Elliott and company will call his number early and often, and as long as he stays healthy, will result in increased catches, yards and touchdowns than any year prior.
Expect Tucker to catch at least 20 balls this season for a couple hundred yards, and a handful of scores.