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UNC Football: Star linebacker set to return to Tar Heels in 2020

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 07: Chazz Surratt #21 of the North Carolina Tar Heels pressures Jarren Williams #15 of the Miami Hurricanes during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 07: Chazz Surratt #21 of the North Carolina Tar Heels pressures Jarren Williams #15 of the Miami Hurricanes during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Star UNC football defensive player announces his decision to return to Tar Heels in 2020

University of North Carolina junior linebacker Chazz Surratt has announced his decision to return to the Tar Heels for his senior season in 2020. The News&Observer’s Jonathan Alexander was first to break the news on Monday afternoon.

The former quarterback and first-year linebacker could have gone pro after completing his junior season, and graduating school in December. He had one of the best seasons at linebacker — and on defense in general — at North Carolina in recent memory. His draft stock rose greatly over the past year, but the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Denver, North Carolina native stated that he wants to fine-tune his game before entering his name into the NFL Draft in 2021.

Surratt was named first team All-Conference by the Associated Press after a dominant season on the UNC defense. He compiled a team-leading 115 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He earned the second-most votes for ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, and was easily the best player on the UNC defense all season long. If voters can look past the fact that he plays at North Carolina, he should begin the 2020 campaign as a preseason All-American.

Surratt’s return to Chapel Hill next season is a huge boost for a program that won five more games in 2019 than it did in the previous season, and won its first bowl game in six years.

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