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UNC Football: 2021 Tar Heels a preseason top-10 team?

By Blake Cockrum

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 02: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back to pass during the first quarter of the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies at Hard Rock Stadium on January 2, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 02: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back to pass during the first quarter of the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies at Hard Rock Stadium on January 2, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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UNC football program a near-consensus pick for preseason top-10 status in 2021?

After a strong showing in 2020 that saw North Carolina win eight games and make an appearance in the Capital One Orange Bowl, the Tar Heels are being pegged as a top-10 team for the 2021 season by a number of publications.

Among those making such claims are the folks over at ESPN, who have picked Mack Brown and the Tar Heels as the No. 7 team in their 2021 Way-Too-Early Top 25.

ESPN Senior Writer Mark Schlabach notes that North Carolina bids farewell to their outstanding backfield duo of Michael Carter, Jr. and Javonte Williams, as well as their top two receiving targets in Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown. The Tar Heels also lose Chazz Surratt, their most impactful defender and one of the top linebackers in the nation. Schlabach goes on to talk about the UNC veterans that will return next season, such as Sam Howell and senior linebacker Tomon Fox, in addition to an incoming freshman class that is highlighted by defensive end Keeshawn Silver and future signal-caller Drake Maye.

And the six programs that Schlabach ranks ahead of the Tar Heels for next season? Clemson is first, followed by defending national champion Alabama at No. 2 and Oklahoma at three. The Georgia Bulldogs are ranked fourth, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are fifth. The Texas A&M Aggies, who finished the 2020 season just one spot outside of the College Football Playoff, are at No. 6.

Similar to ESPN, 247Sports has North Carolina at No. 6 in their early preseason top 25. Stadium’s Brett McMurphy has the Tar Heels at No. 9, and Athlon Sports has them ranked 10th. Sporting News is among those ranking North Carolina the lowest for next season, as national college football writer Bill Bender has them at 14th.

Despite losing a number of tremendous skill players to graduation and the NFL, confidence in the Tar Heels moving forward remains high. Much of that confidence is due to the terrific play and high ceiling of soon-to-be junior quarterback Sam Howell. The outstanding product of Monroe, North Carolina has already set a number of records, both on the national level and within the Atlantic Coast Conference. And as he goes next season, so, too will the Tar Heels.

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Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the UNC football program.

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