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UNC Football Spring Game: A closer look at the offensive line

By John Ellis

ANNAPOLIS, MD - DECEMBER 27: Head Coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels talks to his players during the game against the Temple Owls in the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2019 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
ANNAPOLIS, MD - DECEMBER 27: Head Coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels talks to his players during the game against the Temple Owls in the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2019 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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In continuing our series on the preview of the various position groups within the UNC football program, today we look at the offensive line.

Quarterback | Running backs | Wide receivers/tight ends

The 2021 UNC football season got underway on March 23, as the team began Spring practice. The Tar Heels return 18 of their 22 starters from a season ago, and 21-of-22 starters from the Orange Bowl, including a recruiting class that’s ranked 13th in the country.

Offensive Line Coach Stacy Searels is in the enviable position of returning all five starters to one of the most talented groups in the nation. The front five for North Carolina is massive, as the average size is 6-feet-5-inches and 325 pounds.

The combination of seniors Brian Anderson, Marcus McKethan and Jordan Tucker, along with juniors Asim Richards and Joshua Ezeudu, were exceptional in 2020. Through their work in protecting Heisman candidate Sam Howell, and blocking for the tandem of Carter and Williams, they were part of an offense that averaged over 41 points while gaining an average of 537.3 yards per game. The expectations for the 2021 season are even higher.

Head coach Mack Brown has gone on record saying that the team would like to have no less than eight offensive linemen that could play as a starter, but that he would prefer to have ten. Out of the remaining 15 offensive linemen on the roster, Coach Brown is going to get his wish. With super senior Quiron Johnson, juniors Ed Montilus and William Barnes, along with sophomore Jonathan Adorno, Brown already has a talented group to choose from. Keep an eye out for freshman Diego Pounds, whose size on the team is rivaled only by seniors McKethan and Tucker.

Like every season, there will be a player that will separate himself from the rest of the group The fall will be when we will really see what the rotation is going to look like on game days. The other nine players that have an opportunity to get on the field based upon their performance in camp are sophomores Wyatt Tunall, Cayden Baker, Noland Brown, Wisdom Asaboro and Hunter Shope. The four redshirt freshmen that round out the roster are Chance Carroll, A.J. Beatty, Malik McGowan and Trey Zimmerman.

Director of Player Engagement with the Green Bay Packers and former NFL offensive lineman Greg Ruegamer probably said it best when he stated, “We are offensive linemen, part of the O-line. Five guys working as a unit within the football team to establish the tempo and demeanor of the game. Our job description does not sound fun, interesting, or flashy, nor should it. Those who know football know the game is won or lost in the trenches, along the line. We start the play and if we are good we finish it. We are the O-Line, we set the examples, we lead from the front.”

UNC football is in great hands.

The UNC football Spring Game is scheduled for Saturday April 24 at 3:00pm and can be seen on the ACC Network.

Next. Walker Kessler headed to Auburn. dark

For more information on the UNC football program, check back daily at Keeping It Heel.

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