Defense Shines in UNC Football Spring Game

On a rainy day in Kenan Stadium, Mack Brown’s UNC Football team held their Spring football game. While there were some offensive highlights, the afternoon belonged to the defensive side of the ball as the Tar Heels outscored Carolina 14-12.

On the offensive side of the ball, Heisman candidate Sam Howell over came a slow start in the rain to finish 6-10 for 118 yards. His 48-yard strike down the right sideline to wide receiver Josh Downs was a thing of beauty and re-enforced Brown’s praise of Downs over the course of the Spring. The 44 yard reception by Simmons in traffic showed why it is going to be difficult to keep this young man off the field in 2021.

There are still questions to be answered in the running game. Outside of a 38 yard scramble for a touchdown by red-shirt Freshman quarterback Jefferson Boaz, only two running backs averaged more than five yards per carry. Freshman Caleb Hood’s 5.8 yards per carry and Junior Josh Henderson’s 5.5 yards per carry led the way. Overall the offense produced 344 yards on 78 plays with 130 yards coming on three plays. It is still a unit that is expected to be dynamic this coming Fall.

But the day belonged to the defense. The five sacks, led by Eugene Asante with two, for losses of 29 yards paired with 12 tackles for loss, also led by Asante with two, resulting in 44 lost yards is something to build upon. When you either have a sack or a tackle for loss once every 4.58 plays then you are going to be special. When you include the interception by red-shirt freshman Christopher Holliday the defense has the potential to be dominant.

Five players recorded at least four tackles for the afternoon. Juniors Eugene Asante and Chris Collins joined by Sophomore Ja’Quirious Conley followed by red-shirt Freshman Cameron Roseman-Sinclair and true Freshman Power Echols all led the way. Overall the unit answered some questions concerning just how good they can be. While missing several starters, including field general Jeremiah Gemmel, they were still all over the field. Additional game statistics can be viewed here.

There are still other questions for the UNC Football program that will start to be answered in August. For instance, other than kicking extra points, there were no other aspects of the Special Teams during the game. You can find out more about our initial evaluation of the unit here.

It is going to be an exciting time this Fall Tar Heel fans. The UNC Football program is as solid as it has been in decades and the best is yet to come.

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