UNC Football: Josh Downs earns first team All-ACC honors

UNC football standout Josh Downs has been named first team All-ACC as a result of his terrific sophomore season.

Josh Downs was one of 11 Tar Heels named to All-ACC teams and ACC honorable mention on Tuesday morning, but the only one to receive first team honors. The sophomore standout put together one of the best receiving seasons in North Carolina football history, so the distinction is well-earned.

Downs’ superb second season in Chapel Hill included setting a number of program records, but none more notable than the ones for receptions and yards in a single season. With his 98 receptions this season, Downs topped previous record-holder Ryan Switzer (96). A tribute to his incredible consistency this year, Downs had at least eight catches in 11 of 12 games, including eight straight to begin the season.

Downs also passed Hakeem Nicks’ previous team record of 1,222 receiving yards in a season when he compiled 1,273 yards of his own and had an average of 13 yards per catch. Downs’ impact on the Tar Heels this season simply cannot be overstated. He was responsible for eight of the team’s 25 receiving touchdowns and nearly 41 percent of the receiving yardage. It’s honestly difficult to imagine the Tar Heels winning six games this season without his contributions.

Luckily for Mack Brown and the Tar Heels, Downs will be back at North Carolina next fall for his junior season. He should enter the season with expectations of being not only one of the top receivers in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but in all of college football. If his current trajectory remains steady, there’s almost no chance that he returns to campus for a senior season, as he should be a sure-fire first or second round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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