Dubious Distinctions: When the Tar Heels travel to the Hook on October 19th, they will be trying to win a game in Charlottesville for the first time since Ronald Reagan was president (1981); a string of 10 consecutive losses.

Stellar Stats: Over the last 10 years, Carolina has played in eight bowl games. Florida State is the only ACC team to have played in more bowl games. UNC handed the Florida State Seminoles their worst regular season loss (41-9) since a 59-27 pasting at the hands of Auburn back in 1985.

Overview

Long noted for outstanding defenses, the 2002 North Carolina Tar Heels will be relying a great deal on their offense in 2002. With the loss of eight starters on defense, including three NFL draft choices from the defensive front four and all three starting linebackers, Carolina may see an end to their string of five first or second place finishes atop the ACC defensive standings over the last seven years. The offense has some firepower but there are question marks at both the quarterback and tailback positions. The line is above average and has some experience and the receiving unit is loaded with playmakers like Sam Aiken and Chesley Borders. Entering the 2001 season UNC head coach John Bunting said of his alma mater "I think they lost an edge in the weight room, lost an edge in recruiting, lost an edge in the excitement to play this great game of football and what it takes," he said. "The game is a long game. ... You're going to make a mistake, but you can't let that get you down on the next play. You can't give in. I saw it sometimes in spring ball; they gave in if something didn't go right. It can't happen anymore."

Offense

Carolina is one of only three teams in the ACC to return its leading passer, rusher and receiver. Wake Forest and Virginia are the others. In addition, Carolina also returns three starting offensive linemen for the first time since 1999. Darian Durant passed for 1,843 yards and 17 touchdowns – both UNC freshman records – in 2001. Andre’Williams led the team in rushing with 520 yards and four touchdowns. Williams is joined in the backfield by two other returnees, Willie Parker (131 yards in the Peach Bowl) and Jacque Lewis, who played as a freshman in 2001. Sam Aiken, who led UNC with 789 yards receiving, anchors a receiving corps that returns seven of its top nine pass catchers.

According to TarHeelBlue.com columnist Lee Pace, “[It] seems Carolina football cannot escape a quarterback quandary, either because of injury or inconsistency. Over the last 15 years, Carolina has had only four seasons with an established quarterback who managed to stay healthy and productive enough to keep his job throughout the regular season…The current Tar Heel situation in cached in irony because last fall some fans were miffed that Bunting didn't bench Curry in favor of Durant, and now they can't figure why Durant wasn't benched in favor of junior transfer C.J. Stephens.”

Bunting understands the dynamics.

"When I played for the Eagles, the most popular guy in Philadelphia whenever we lost was the second-team quarterback," he says.

After announcing he would transfer, Darian Durant (So. 5-11 226) returned in the spring as the number four quarterback on the Tar Heel depth chart. He will enter the 2002 season as number one. Durant established Carolina single-season freshman records for touchdown passes (17), completions (142), passing yards (1,843) and total offense (1,971) last season and was named ACC Rookie of the Week six times. As a freshman he finished second in the ACC Rookie of the Year voting to FSU quarterback Chris Rix. Durant’s 17 touchdown passes are the third-highest total by a freshman in ACC history and he ranks fourth in the ACC record books for freshman single-season passing yardage (1,843) and fourth for freshman single-season total offense (1,971). Darian played in every contest and started games against Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. "I had 10 interceptions last year, and that's not going to get it done this year. So I'm trying to look at the plays where I made bad reads and try to learn from those."

Over the last two seasons, the Heels have also had difficulty finding one solid go to running back. Much like last season, running backs’ coach Andre Powell who came to the Tar Heels from Virginia, is employing a running back by committee strategy again this fall. Andre' Williams (Jr. 6-1 214) is a physical, bruising runner who not only has the ability to make defenders miss, but with 4.33 speed in the forty, can quickly take it to the house. Sharing time at tailback with Willie Parker this season, Williams led UNC in rushing in 2001 with 520 yards on 170 carries. Parker a 5-10 200 pound sophomore came on strong at the end of 2000 and was the Tar Heels’ second-leading rusher with 400 yards last year. Jacque Lewis (So. 5-10 184) is a quick, shifty back that averaged 4.3 yards per carry last year and tallied 241 yards rushing. Sophomore Madison Hedgecock (6-3, 250) is Carolina’s starting fullback.

We look for Skip Seagraves (6-5, 282, So.) to start at left tackle for the Tar Heels. Seagraves has good mobility and is quick off the block. He participated in six regular season games last season, including a start against Clemson. At left guard is one of three returning starters on the Carolina offensive line, Chesapeake native Jupiter Wilson (6-3, 312, Jr.). For a big man, Jupiter posses excellent mobility and quick feet. Wilson appeared in 12 games last season for the Heels, starting 11. With three starts under his belt from last season, Jason Brown (So. 6-3 311) switched from tackle to center in the spring to play what offensive line coach Hal Hunter calls “the most important position” on the offensive line. He has excellent quickness for an offensive lineman with his size and the potential to be one of top linemen in the league before his career is finished. One of the strongest players on the team, Brown set school records for offensive linemen in the weight room in the squat (660 lbs.) and power clean (392 lbs.) and his combined pounds lifted in the squat, bench press, and power clean are a Carolina record (1,477 lbs.). On the right side of Brown is All-ACC candidate Jeb Terry (6-6, 305, Jr.). A converted defensive tackle, Terry has solid lateral movement and good mobility. As a sophomore Terry played well in his first full year at guard last year becoming one of only two Tar Heel offensive linemen to start every game (center Adam Metts was the other). Terry was switched from tackle to guard in preseason practice and was rated the No. 21 guard in the country by The Sporting News. At right tackle we project promising young offensive lineman Willie McNeill (6-5, 283, So.) who started 10 games last season. McNeill established himself as good pass blocker; he has quick feet and good mobility but needs to improve his run blocking.

Carolina is blessed with a group of talented receivers who have never quite lived up to their potential. After catching 39 passes last year and being UNC's top punt returner, projected starter Bosley Allen was suspended in February, was let back on the team, and was kicked off for good in the spring. Allen’s departure leaves a huge gap in the Carolina receiving unit but there are still talented players in the program. All-ACC candidate Sam Aiken (Sr. 6-2 205), perhaps the most underrated player in the ACC, enters his senior season within striking distance of several school records at wide receiver. Last season, Aiken led the Tar Heels with 46 catches for 789 yards and eight touchdowns, just one shy of the school record of nine set by Marcus Wall in 1994. Aiken emerged as Carolina's top playmaker in 2001 and may be the Heels' most consistent target. Wide receiver Chesley Borders (Sr. 6-0 190) had his best season in 2001, and should provide an effective complement at the other receiver spot. Borders caught 27 passes last year for 448 yards. Getting the start at tight end for the Heels is Zach Hilton (Sr. 6-7 276). Hilton was more of a pass catching tight end last year, but the staff feels he is now also a capable run blocker

Defense

With three starters from last seasons defensive line now playing in the NFL, the Tar Heel front line was decimated. Over the last two years Carolina posted 79 sacks and led the ACC last season in total defense. The front line will need to develop in a hurry to match that type of production in 2002. At defensive end we project Issac Mooring (Jr. 6-3 272) to be the starter. Mooring played in all 13 games, including the Peach Bowl victory over Auburn. As a sophomore he was Carolina’s top reserve at defensive end and finished the season with 21 total tackles, including 12 solo hits and two sacks. Manning the other end position is Will Chapman (Jr. 6-4 272). Chapman missed spring practice while recovering from a left ACL tear he suffered last year at Clemson. He should be ready by the start of fall practice and is one of three returning starters on defense and is the only returning starter among the front seven. Chapman earned a scholarship prior to the start of the 2001 season and started the first eight games of 2001 before tearing ligaments in his left knee. He finished the season with 29 tackles, including 14 solo and 15 assists, three tackles for loss and two pass breakups. At defensive tackle Eric Davis (Sr. 6-3 268) has the most experience of any returning starter on the defensive line. He should get the nod for the starting spot alongside Chase Page (So. 6-5, 272) at defensive tackle. Davis had a good spring and will provide valuable leadership on a young defense. As a junior he played in 10 regular-season games and the Peach Bowl as a reserve defensive tackle. Page was one of seven true freshmen to play last season for the Heels. He is a big, athletic player with good speed. Page played as a true freshman last season at offensive guard, but switched to defensive tackle in the spring. He’s impressed the coaches and we project will be the starter for the Heels.

The graduation of David Thornton, Quincy Monk and Merceda Perry leaves Carolina with virtually no experience at linebacker. Looking to keep Carolina's linebacker tradition alive is a group of players that have just one start among them, 19 game appearances and 6 total tackles. “I think we have the athleticism,” said Coach Bunting. “Doug Justice is a very good athlete. Malcolm is as good an athlete as anyone on our football team. The athleticism is equal to; the speed is equal to or better than we had last year. Now, neither David (Thornton) nor Quincy (Monk) had made more than a few starts before last year. There were very few starts among those two players. So that situation is very similar as we start this season. Dave Huxable has done a great job with those kids. He really has.” To add some experience to the linebacking corps, former safety DeFonte Coleman (Sr. 6-1 219) will move to linebacker this season and will start for the Tar Heels. Coleman started 8 games in 2000 but missed most of last year with injuries. Following a solid spring, freshmen Doug Justice (6-2, 238) enters fall practice as the starter at middle linebacker. He has good closing speed and is a quick learner and will need to be as he steps into a position with little, if any, experience after redshirting last season. The final linebacker spot will be manned by Malcolm Stewart (Sr. 6-3 223). Stewart enters the year with some game experience, but the 2002 season will be his first as a starter. Malcom has great potential and could be the year’s biggest surprise on defense.

Speed and sure tackling well define the North Carolina secondary. Speed along with knowledge of the game provides junior cornerback Michael Waddell (5-11, 173) the opportunity to be one of the best cornerbacks in the ACC. Also a dangerous kick return man, Waddell returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown last year versus Oklahoma. A second-team All-ACC selection in 2001, Waddell is one of the best cover cornerbacks in the league and should contend for first-team all-conference honors and All-America accolades this season. He finished 2001 with 54 tackles and led the team with 24 pass break ups. The Sporting News ranked Waddell the No. 9 cornerback in the country. "There is a lot of pressure on us this year. The younger guys are looking for some leadership and with me being one of the returning starters they have to come to me."

Free safety Dexter Reid (Jr. 6-0 187) from Norfolk, Virginia is a hard-hitting safety and one of three returning starters on defense. Reid is the leading returning tackler on the squad from last year with 107 stops. “I think Dexter Reid has done a great job this off season in terms of his maturation and growth as a person and leadership with our squad. He is going to be a real special player in our program for the next two years,” said Bunting. Dexter was rated the No. 2 safety in the country by The Sporting News and was also a Preseason second-team All-America pick by the publication. Chris Curry (So. 6-1, 196) who was one of only two true freshmen to see action in every game and one of seven true freshmen to play last fall, is penciled in as the starter at strong safety. He possesses great closing speed and is a punishing hitter; Curry has the ability to be an outstanding player. Another Virginia native, Kevin Knight (Sr. 5-8 186) ended 2001 with 52 tackles from the nickel back position and will get the start at the other corner.

“What we need to do defensively is learn to play with consistency said Coach Bunting. The whole football team needs to learn how to play with consistency. Last year we talked about playing hard and fast for 60 minutes. And after the third game, we said that we better play a little smarter too. We had to add that. We were lacking that. I think this year with the youth; I think the next step is learning how to win. And that means playing consistently. Our defense needs to learn how to play consistently.”

Special Teams

The Tar Heels must replace Lou Groza candidate kicker Jeff Reed this season as well as find a way to improve their punting. John Lafferty handled most of the punting chores last season but finished the year with only a 39.6 average (5th in ACC) and a team net of only 32.9 (7th in ACC). Carolina’s 19.6 yards per return average on kickoffs placed them 8th overall in the league. Lafferty will have the opportunity to improve as he returns for another season and Michigan State transfer junior Dan Orner will handle the kicking duties. The one bright spot for the UNC kicking game might be punt returner Michael Waddell. Waddell has excellent speed and can break the long one. Overall, this group is a weaker unit than a year ago and may well cost the Heels during the season.

Final Thoughts

The Tar Heels will have plenty of firepower on offense but we believe the defense will struggle. Carolina faces what some long-time observers are calling the most challenging home schedule in school history this season. In addition to the season opener against Miami (Ohio), the Tar Heels welcome Texas, Georgia Tech, NC State, Maryland and Clemson to Kenan Stadium. All six of UNC’s home opponents had a winning record last season and all but Miami (Ohio) played in a bowl game. In addition to the difficult home slate, Carolina goes on the road to face non-conference foes Syracuse – a Top 10 team in 2001 – and Arizona State of the Pac-10 as well as their trips to Doak Campbell and Charlottesville where UNC is looking for its first win in Charlottesville since 1981. "Games like these should toughen our football team over time," says Bunting.

Carolina finished in the bottom third of the league in kickoff returns, net punting and 3rd down conversions, all of which will need to improve to take pressure off the young defenders. The Tar Heels are like most of the ACC teams with the exception of Florida State and Duke, a middle of the pack team with lots of questions. As for the game against the Hoos, until the Heels prove they win at Scott Stadium, we have to give the edge to the Cavs.

UVA – 27 UNC – 21
Prediction: 5-3 ACC, 7-5 Overall

Greg Waters is the co-host and producer of the University of Virginia sports radio call-in show CavTalk. The program originates from the studios of AM 950 WXGI in Richmond, Virginia and can be heard from 7:00 – 9:00 PM EST every Wednesday evening. The program can also be heard via the World Wide Web at www.thesabre.com. .

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