UNC Football: Six Tar Heels named to Athlon Sports’ All-ACC Preseason team

Six members of the UNC Football team were named to the Athlon Sports All-ACC Preseason Team last week

With Memorial Day Weekend signaling the unofficial start to the Summer, it means we are just a few months away from the start of the 2019 college football season. As it stands now, there are less than 100 days until Week 1 when North Carolina and South Carolina meet in Charlotte to kick off the season.

For the Tar Heels, they are coming off two-straight seasons without going to a bowl game forcing the program to fire head coach Larry Fedora and bring back Mack Brown to fill the role. Brown is back for his second stint as head coach and hopes to turn this program around quickly.

The head coach was able to put together a solid 2019 recruiting class despite being on the job for just a few months before National Signing Day. His 2020 class is currently ranked in the Top 10 with the cycle still being early.

But while the future talent coming in looks bright, there is still a lot of reason for optimism on this squad going into 2019.

Earlier this week Athlon Sports rolled out their All-Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Team, spotlighting some of the top players in the country. The Tar Heels landed 6 players on that list with four of them coming from the offensive side of the football.

Offensive lineman Charlie Heck, tight end Carl Tucker, running back Michael Carter, punt returner/wide receiver Dazz Newsome and defensive linemen Tomon Fox and Jason Strowbridge were all among the players selected.

Heck was the only UNC player to be named to the All-ACC Preseason First Team, joining other offensive lineman on the list. Newsome and Strowbridge were named to the second team, while Tucker and Carter were named to the Third Team and Fox named to the Fourth Team. Newsome was listed as a punt returner although he does play wide receiver for UNC as well.

Heck is entering his senior year with the Tar Heels and has been a staple on the line since starting in all 12 games as a sophomore. He started 11 games for the Tar Heels as a senior and returns as the anchor on the line this season.

The right tackle helped block for sophomore standout Michael Carter who was able to build off his freshman campaign last season. Carter is one of the most explosive players on offense for UNC and is ready to break out on the national scene.

The tight end Tucker took over as the starter last season after Brandon Fritts suffered an injury that cost him his season. Tucker is expected to be one of the primary targets in the offense this season as well.

On the defensive line, Strowbridge and Fox are both returning after solid seasons in 2018 where they were bright spots on the defense. Strowbridge is coming off an All-ACC Honorable mention season.

Switching to special teams, Newsome is one of more dangerous players with the football in his hands. In 2018 Newsome had six kickoff returns for 125 yards and 19 punt returns for 286 yards, while returning a punt for a touchdown. He also made his impact felt as a receiver, recording 44 receptions for 506 yards and two touchdowns.

For more on the UNC Football program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.