UNC Football: Ty Chandler earns some preseason recognition

The UNC Football program lost two of their biggest weapons on offense with running backs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter entering the 2021 NFL draft. With the dynamic duo gone, the Tar Heels turned to the transfer portal for a player that could come in a take the lead role right away.

And that’s what they found in former Tennessee running back Ty Chandler.

The former four-star recruit opted to transfer out of Tennessee and join the Tar Heels program this offseason. He steps into a role where he’s expected to be the starter right away and have big shoes to fill.

With Atlantic Coast Conference media days underway, it won’t be long before the season is finally here and on Wednesday, Chandler picked up some preseason honors. He was one of 82 running backs named to the 2021 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list.

The  PwC SMU Athletic Forum hands out the award each season to the best running back in all of college football. So making the preseason watch list is an honor as it has you on the radar for the award going into the season.

The senior running back appeared in 45 games, making 25 starts for the Volunteers and rushed for 2,015 rushing yards while totaling 3,245 all-purpose yards, showing off his versatility in a tough SEC conference. It’s going to be hard filling the shoes of Williams and Carter but Chandler is a legit running back that should help the Tar Heels’ ground game.

Joining Chandler on this list are fellow ACC backs Christian Beal-Smith (Wake Forest), Jashaun Corbin (Florida State), Lyn-J Dixon (Clemson), Mataeo Durant (Duke), Zonovan Knight (N.C. State), Jalen Mitchell (Louisville), and  Jordan Mason (Georgia Tech).

The Doak Walker Award will be handed out at the The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN in December.

For more on the UNC Football program, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.