UNC Football: Bryson Nesbit named breakout candidate by PFF

UNC Football tight end Bryson Nesbit was named a potential breakout candidate by Pro Football Focus for the upcoming 2023 season.

As we discussed during our UNC football tight-end positional preview, the Tar Heels are extremely talented and experienced at the position, so it is no surprise that the rest of the country is taking notice either.

Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus recently ranked his top offensive breakout candidates at each position for the 2023 college football season.

Nesbit was ranked as the top tight end to be a breakout candidate and have the season he had in 2022, it is very likely that Nesbit duplicate that performance or even improve upon it. He has already been named to the John Mackey Award Watch list (along with teammate John Copenhaver).

It’s also worth noting that Nesbit is the leading receiver returning from last year’s team after the departures of Josh Downs and Antoine Green to the NFL. In 2022, he caught 35 passes for 507 yards receiving and four touchdowns, averaging 14.49 yards per catch. While the wide receiver room is talented (especially if Tez Walker is ruled eligible) and has plenty of depth, Nesbit will still have plenty of opportunities this fall.

As a big target for Drake Maye, the six-foot-five junior could become a safety blanket and go-to target for the ACC Preseason Player of the Year. All UNC football fans hope that Nesbit replicates (and improves) on his 2022 stat line while also helping in the run game by providing some key blocks downfield.

Interestingly of note, three of the four offensive breakout candidates noted by Pro Football Focus were out of the ACC – Cade Klubnik QB from Clemson, Trey Benson RB from Florida State, and Nesbit.

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