The UNC football team concluded its spring practice season Saturday afternoon with its annual spring game at Kenan Stadium. As the team takes a break for the summer, here are some takeaways from the game.
Carolina's rebuilt offensive line is still a work in progress
The Tar Heels lost Diego Pounds, Ed Montillas, Spencer Rowland, Corey Gainer and William Barnes in the offseason, so Saturday's offensive line was made up mostly of transfers and unproven young players. Jonathan Adorno and Willie Lumpkin are the only notable returnees from 2023 and are expected to compete for jobs in the fall. Georgia transfer Austin Blaske and North Texas transfer Howard Sampson lined up on the first-team unit along with Lumpkin, sophomore Trevion Green and junior Malik McGowan. Sampson certainly has the physical presence to be a starting tackle. His height is 6 feet 8 inches and his weight is 325 pounds.
However, both the first team and reserve units had their ups and downs. First-team QB Max Johnson was under consistent pressure on his first few snaps and had to throw the ball away multiple times. Good news? It's only April. The bad news? The line cannot officially resume practice until August.
Quarterback competition is wide open
Coach Mack Brown has said the team's quarterback battle will continue into the summer and into the fall, and Saturday's game shows that both Johnson and Connor Harrell are capable, albeit with some rough edges. Shown. Johnson's arm talent is undeniable and he can buy time with his feet, but his instinct to hold on to the ball would have resulted in a sack had he been allowed to do so in the spring game. Meanwhile, Harrell showed some skill on his first series with a 68-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Javarius “Valli” Green, but his consistency is still not there. Please wait.
“It's a tough balance to find, but…we understand we're competing,” Harrell said. “We're just people. We try to help each other. We talk about everything.”
“I have a really good friendship with him,” Johnson said. “We just keep bouncing ideas off each other.”
All running backs are playing for second place.
Omarion Hampton made a cameo appearance during the “thump” session of the UNC game, but retreated to the sideline as soon as the actual hitting began. Hampton will be a mainstay in the Carolina offense in 2024 with Drake Maye set to play in the NFL. Coach Brown may keep him in bubble wrap until August.
University of Southern California transfer Darwin Barlow showed off his speed and scored the only rushing touchdown of the game, and freshman Davion Gause also had some nice runs. But no other player on the roster has the dynamic combination of tackle-breaking and breakaway speed that Hampton does.
“All of the running backs we've acquired are very special,” Johnson said. “I think they did a great job of finding the holes, and if there aren’t holes, you just make something happen.”
Most of UNC's primary pass catchers were on the sideline…
Notable Tar Heels not in pads today: JJ Jones, Gavin Blackwell, Chris Culliver, John Copenhaver, and Bryson Nesbitt. Kobe Pacer wasn't even on the field. All of these names could be prime targets for Johnson, Harrell, or someone who will make a big impact for Carolina in the fall.
…But the children are fine.
The UNC wide receiver room is loaded with talent. Freshmen Alex Taylor, Vali Green, and Jordan Shipp all performed well in the spring game, with Shipp in particular showing good rapport with both Johnson and Harrell. Shipp caught one of Harrell's three touchdown passes on the day, routinely showing his ability to beat defensive backs on 50/50 balls. At 6-foot-1, Shipp is taller than any of UNC's defensive backs. With the name in front of him, the 2024 season may not be Shipp's breakout campaign, but it's coming soon.
Featured image via UNC Football twitter
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