UNC Football: A new role coming for George Pettaway?
A few weeks away from the regular season, are Mack Brown and the UNC football program preparing a new role for George Pettaway?
The UNC football program’s running back room is full of depth but doesn’t necessarily feature one that will receive the bulk of the carries.
Instead of relying on one or two players to carry the load, the Tar Heels will likely use a running back-by-committee approach, similar to what they did a season ago.
One of the players in the mix to earn carries is rising sophomore George Pettaway, who saw limited action as a freshman. In eight games, the former four-star recruit tallied 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as he hopes to make a bigger impact this upcoming season.
Well, Mack Brown and the UNC football program’s coaching staff expect him to, as they are shifting his role a bit just weeks before opening night.
Brown told reporters that Pettaway has started taking reps in the slot at wide receiver during team practices. His ability to thrive in open-field situations is providing the Tar Heels coaching staff with an opportunity to find more ways to get him on the field this season.
"“You’ve got George Pettaway that’s playing some in the slot now and at running back. He’s doing both because he’s valuable and we need him to be on the field some.”"
With five key returners back in the mix, the Tar Heels backfield is a little crowded. Although North Carolina would love to find one or two backs to rely upon for the majority of the workload, it’s more likely that they’ll have to mix and match to find the right recipe.
Although he’s expected to see some time at running back, Pettaway might ultimately end up seeing more time in the slot. If Tez Walker’s waiver isn’t granted, the Tar Heels could use another playmaker in the passing game, as Pettaway makes a lot of sense, especially in short-pass situations.
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