UNC Football: Brown, Carter opt-out of Orange Bowl and declare for NFL Draft

A pair of UNC Football standouts on offense will not play in the team’s Orange Bowl this year as they have declared for the 2021 NFL Draft and opted out

The UNC Football program will be a little short-handed for their big bowl game against Texas A&M next week as the two teams are set to meet in the Orange Bowl. 

With just over a week until No. 13 North Carolina takes on No. 5 Texas A&M in Miami, two key players on offense made some big decisions. First, running back Michael Carter announced via social media that his career at UNC has ended and he will declare for the 2021 NFL Draft, opting out of playing in the Orange Bowl.

A few minutes later, wide receiver Dyami Brown declared for the 2021 NFL Draft and will also NOT play in the Orange Bowl.

Carter and Brown are two key starters for UNC’s offense that was among the best in the nation this past season. But with both declaring for the NFL Draft and hoping to take the next step in their football careers, they do not want to risk a serious injury.

Splitting time with fellow start running back Javonte Williams, Carter rushed for 1,245 yards and 9 touchdowns on 156 carries. He added 25 receptions for 256 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, making up one half of UNC’s dynamic duo in the backfield.

Brown has been UNC’s best wide receiver over the past two seasons. In 2020, he hauled in 55 receptions for 1,099 yards and 8 touchdowns. He’s the only UNC receiver in program history to have two 1,000 yard receiving seasons.

UNC will look to Javonte Williams, D.J. Jones, and Elijah Green to fill the void for Carter in the backfield. Meanwhile, as of now Dazz Newsome is still playing and UNC will have Brown’s younger brother Khafre as well as Emery Simmons, Josh Downs, Antoine Green and Rontavius Green as their wide receivers.

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