Mack Brown discusses the future of running back Caleb Hood

Senior running back Caleb Hood has battled his fair share of injuries in a North Carolina uniform. However, this isn’t the end of the road for Hood, and he’ll put on his pads for one more season.

Head Coach Mack Brown announced on Monday that Hood will redshirt, per Tar Heel Illustrated. The plan is for Hood to return to the UNC football program for the 2025 season.

Hood’s career has been riddled with injuries, but now, he’ll get one last crack at a healthy season. Hood suffered a lower-body injury this offseason that has kept him sidelined for a good portion of the year. He’s only played in three games for the Tar Heels, totaling six carries for one yard with three catches for 29 yards.

However, even when healthy this season, Hood was buried deep in the running back depth chart.

Hood has never played more than seven games in a season. His best season came in 2022, where he tallied 250 rushing yards, 119 receiving yards and a touchdown. However, he missed the Tar Heels’ final six games with an upper-body injury.

In 2025, Hood will look to contribute to a Tar Heels backfield that desperately needs help.

The Tar Heels will need all hands on deck in the backfield with superstar Omarion Hampton almost certainly declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. North Carolina can’t replace someone like Hampton. But they can hope for a running-back-by-committee approach — and maybe Hood can be part of that committee.

Hood might still see a limited role in 2025, playing behind the likes of Davion Gause and competing for reps with Charleston French and incoming freshman Demon June. But Hood will likely be a bigger factor next season than he was this year, and the Tar Heels will take any running back help they can get.