UNC Football: Tar Heels’ linebacker receiving early NFL Draft praise

A UNC Football linebacker is receiving early praise for the 2021 NFL Draft as Mel Kiper Jr. released his first rankings this week

While it’s still early to make a call on what’s going to happen with the 2020 college football season, the excitement is at an all-time high for the North Carolina Tar Heels coming off a turnaround season in which they went 7-6 and won their first bowl game since 2013.

Part of that turnaround included several key players both on offense and defense. But maybe no one surprised more people than inside linebacker Chazz Surratt.

The former quarterback made the position change to linebacker ahead of the 2019 season and was one of the best linebackers in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He finished the year tied for tackles in the conference and was as a First Team All-ACC Selection. After deciding to return to the Tar Heels, Surratt will be a leader on that defense and one of the best players at his position in the entire country.

On Tuesday, just about 10 days after the 2020 NFL Draft, expect Mel Kiper Jr. released his initial rankings for the 2021 Draft. He broke it down by position and nothing but praise for Surratt, listing him as the No. 2 overall inside linebacker behind only Dylan Moses of Alabama:

Surratt racked up 115 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and 15 tackles for a loss. He was a monster on UNC’s defense.

While Kiper Jr. has Surratt listed as the No. 2 inside linebacker, Walter Football lists him as a second-round pick in the draft. He still has the chance to up that draft stock and could find himself flirting with a late first-round projection if he plays well next season.

The Tar Heels had two players drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft with offensive tackle Charlie Heck going to Houston in the fourth round and defensive end Jason Strowbridge going to Miami in the fifth round.

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