Keeping It Heel
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UNC Football: Kobe Paysour tabbed as breakout star

By Jordan Falls

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 01: Kobe Paysour #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels can't make a diving catch as DJ Harvey #20 of the Virginia Tech Hokies defends during the second half of their game at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 01, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 01: Kobe Paysour #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels can't make a diving catch as DJ Harvey #20 of the Virginia Tech Hokies defends during the second half of their game at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 01, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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UNC Football redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kobe Paysour was recently named as a breakout star for the 2023 season by ESPN’s Greg McElroy.

Remember when Keeping It Heel listed our five most important players for the upcoming UNC football season?

Kobe Paysour made my top five, and now, with the uncertainty around Devontez ‘Tez’ Walker and his eligibility for 2023, Paysour is receiving recognition from some national media.

Most recently, former Alabama quarterback and current ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy has listed Paysour as a breakout star.

Paysour is the second-leading returning wide receiver in reception yards from the 2022 season, playing in 12 games catching 29 passes for a total of 324 yards and four touchdowns. He saw playing time out of the slot last season when relieving former UNC football wide receiver Josh Downs.

"I have to go with Kobe Paysour. Now, he is a third year player, last year got a little bit of time, just 29 catches last year. But when you look at where he’s at, a few starts, it does kind of feel like he’s poised to kind of be that guy for Drake Maye to maybe take the next step."

Speaking of Josh Downs, can UNC football replace Downs’ production and talent level? McElroy thinks so and tabs Paysour as the go-to guy to replace him.

"Are any of them Josh Downs? Probably not that at least at this point. But I would be surprised if when we looked at season’s end, we’re not pretty impressed with North Carolina’s receiving corps as a whole. And I think Kobe has a real chance to be one of the top guys that they go to. Probably going to get a lot of looks in that offense as well. So Kobe Paysour. Keep an eye on him."

Paysour has one thing going for him to achieve a breakout season – he has a Heisman trophy candidate quarterback in Drake Maye. As any true football fan knows, great quarterbacks make the rest of their teammates even better and increase their level of play and talent.

Outside of junior wide receiver JJ Jones, Maye and Paysour have spent the most time together on the football field of any other wide receiver. Both players stepped on the University of North Carolina campus in 2021 and formed a quarterback-receiver bond that is always important when creating chemistry on and off the field.

During the off-season, it was expected that Paysour would be lining up in the slot and taking the role of Josh Downs,  however, if Walker is indeed ineligible, the UNC football coaching staff could look at moving Paysour to the outside opposite of Georgia Tech transfer Nate McCollum.

Is McElroy correct? Will Paysour be the breakout star for UNC football in 2023?

If so, it could be just what the Tar Heel offense needs to replace the potential absence of Tez Walker. If Walker is eligible and Paysour continues to receive the opportunities to achieve a breakout campaign, it could take Drake Maye and the passing game to another level that was never even imaginable before in Chapel Hill.

dark. Next. UNC Football: Bryson Nesbit named breakout candidate by PFF

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