UNC Football: Linebacker Named Mid-Season All-American

A linebacker for the UNC football team has earned mid-season All-American honors for his performance through the season’s first six games.

We are halfway through the 2023 college football season, and it has been an exciting season for the UNC Football program to date, starting 6-0 for just the 10th time in program history and the first time since 1997.

One key unit in the Tar Heels’ success has been the improvement of the defense from last year to this year. The defense has been able to step up and make plays when the offense has struggled, and they have gotten stops or forced turnovers when they needed it the most, something they weren’t able to do in 2022.

A key individual player on the defense side of the ball was named to the Associated Press mid-season All-American team for his performance through the halfway point of the season.

Power Echols has put up some impressive numbers from the linebacker position this season. He has a total of 40 tackles, which is second-best on the UNC football defense. He also has a pass deflection, interception, and one forced fumble.

For as impressive as the Tar Heels have been both offensively and defensively, it’s surprising to see only one player make the mid-season All-American team. The guy that lines up next to Echols at linebacker has a serious case as well. That guy would be Cedric Gray. He has 52 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, three pass deflections, one interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Both guys have been important for the Tar Heels defense, playing almost every snap as it is the one position that the unit does not have a lot of depth at this year. For the momentum to continue from the first half of the season into the final six games, Echols and Gray both will be an important factor in the success of the unit.

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