The early results have not been very good for the UNC football program's new-look defensive line unit.
Through eight quarters, the unit, made up primarily of veteran transfers, has yet to really make its mark in the backfield. With only one sack to their name, it begs the question: Is this going to be a season-long issue for the Tar Heels?
The hope is that it won't be.
This was an area of concern leading up to the 2025 season. There's no Kaimon Rucker or Beau Atkinson among this group to lead the charge- it is totally up to a new-look unit to get the job done.
Let's also remember that North Carolina's linebackers from a season ago also played a big role in rushing the passer. Amare Campbell (now at Penn State) recorded 6.5 sacks on his own, leaving another void that this new-look group has to replace.
The question remains: who will be the guy (or guys) to step up?
The answer might be a guy who hasn't see the field yet as a Tar Heel: UConn transfer Pryce Yates.
During his time at UConn, Yates recorded at least 3.5 sacks in each of his three seasons with the program. North Carolina brought him to Chapel Hill to sack the quarterback, as he's shown the ability to cause havoc in the backfield for opposing offenses.
The issue at hand is, when will he be back on the field?
Until then, the guys on the field need to cause a stir in the backfield. If they aren't able to apply the pressure, it's only going to make life more difficult for the rest of the defensive unit. The hope is that the group (as a whole) continues to progress, as a major component of that will revolve around whether or not the defensive line can wreck havoc.