2011 North Carolina Media Guide
Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/39383
OG Jonathan Cooper Offensive Line Returnees: OT Nick Appel, C Russell Bodine, OG Travis Bond, OG David Collins, OG Jonathan Cooper, OL Alex Coulthard-#, OT Carl Gaskins, C Cam Holland, OT James Hurst, OG Peyton Jenest-#, OT T.J. Leifheit, OL Jordan Marsh-#, OT Brennan Williams Losses: OL Greg Elleby, OL Sam Ellis, OT Mike Ingersoll, OG Alan Pelc Newcomers: OG Landon Turner (Janu- ary enrollee, OL Kiaro Holts, OL Jarrod James Overview: North Carolina welcomes back three starters and one part-time starter from last year’s offensive line. Returning are OG Jonathan Cooper (22 starts), C Cam Holland (20) and OT James Hurst (12), who have combined for 54 career starts. Travis Bond has four starts and is the most likely candidate to take over at the other guard position. In Cooper and Hurst, the Tar Heels have two outstanding All-ACC candidates manning the left side of the line. Cooper was a second-team all- conference pick a year ago and Hurst was a first-team freshman All-America by several publications. Those two tied for the highest grade in coach Sam Pittman’s pro-style system. Junior Brennan Williams and senior Carl Gaskins will compete for playing time at right tackle as the Tar Heels look to replace two-year starter Mike Ingersoll. Freshman T.J. Leifheit and David Collins provide solid depth. Highly-touted Landon Turner enrolled in January and will begin his career battling for playing time at guard. Holland is on the Rimington Award watch list this fall, and will be pushed by redshirt freshman Russell Bodine. TE Christian Wilson Tight Ends & H-Backs Returnees: TE Eric Albright-#, TE Sean Fitzpatrick, TE Nelson Hurst, HB Christian Wilson Losses: TE Zack Pianalto, HB/TE Ryan Taylor, TE Ed Barham Newcomers: Eric Ebron, Jack Tabb Overview: North Carolina was hit hard by graduation losses at tight end, losing its top three players, including four-year lettermen Zack Pianalto, Ryan Taylor and Ed Barham. Those three combined for 79 receptions in 2010. The Tar Heels will look to returning lettermen Nelson Hurst and Christian Wilson to step up. Hurst, the older brother of offensive tackle James Hurst, played sparingly in his first year in the program after transferring from Mis- sissippi State. A strong player who understands the game, Hurst is first on the depth chart. Wilson is a three-year lettermen who has 12 career receptions. He played well down the stretch last year and will have an opportunity to take a starting spot this fall. Sean Fitzpatrick entered the program last year and did a terrific job in the weight room preparing for the upcoming season during his redshirt year. Carolina also signed two tight ends in Eric Ebron and Jack Tabb who will have an opportunity to compete for playing time this fall. WR Dwight Jones Wide Receiver Returnees: WR Joshua Adams, WR Jheranie Boyd, WR Steven Cobb-#, WR Jordan Darty-#, WR Todd Harrelson, WR Erik Highsmith, WR Dwight Jones, WR Mark McNeill-#, WR Sean Tapley, WR Reggie Wilkins Losses: None Newcomers: WR T.J. Thorpe Overview: Senior Dwight Jones headlines an experience group of receiv- ers that suffered no personnel losses in the offseason. Jones emerged as an impact player last year when he hauled in 62 receptions for 946 yards and four touchdowns. He had four 100-yard receiving games, including a 198-yard performance at Virginia and a 233- yard outburst in the win at Florida State. Junior Erik Highsmith had a steady sophomore season with 25 receptions for 348 yards and three touchdowns. He had a 39-yard touchdown reception in the bowl game vs. Tennessee. Speedy wideout Jheranie Boyd proved to be a valuable weapon both as a deep threat and an occasional runner. Both players will be expected to increase their production in 2011. Sophomore Joshua Adams started the final four games of the season and was starting to blossom as a wide receiver. However, he was diagnosed in January with an auto-immune disorder that affects his kidneys and did not participate this spring. The Tar Heels redshirted two wide receivers last year – Sean Tapley and Reggie Wilkins – who could have an impact in 2011. Both have drawn praise from the coaching staff and also could be used as kick returners. Quarterbacks & Running Backs Returnees: TB Giovani Bernard, QB A.J. Blue, FB Curtis Byrd-#, RB Hunter Furr, QB Braden Hanson, TB Ryan Houston, RB Matt Kolo- jejchick-#, FB Kenny Owens-#, FB Devon Ramsay, QB Bryn Renner, RB Travis Riley Losses: TB Shaun Draughn, RB Anthony Elzy, TB Johnny White, QB T.J. Yates Newcomers: QB Marquise Williams, RB Romar Morris QB Bryn Renner Overview: North Carolina must re- place a four-year starter at quarterback and three tailbacks who accounted for 96 percent of last year’s rushing game. Gone are T.J. Yates, who set more than 40 school records, and the running back trio of Shaun Draughn, Anthony Elzy and Johnny White. The Tar Heels will look to Bryn Renner as the first option at quarterback. The lanky sophomore has been in the program two full seasons, but has played in just three games and has only two pass attempts. He will face competition from junior Braden Hanson, sophomore A.J. Blue and January enrollee Marquise Williams. Blue is an intriguing option. Two years ago, he served as Carolina’s “wildcat” quarterback, playing in six games and rushing for 33 yards and completing one pass for 24 yards. He tore knee ligaments vs. Georgia Southern in the sixth game of the season and redshirted last year. At tailback, senior Ryan Houston returns after sitting out the 2010 season and redshirting. He was finally cleared in the NCAA/UNC investigation just before the sixth game of the year and elected not to play and have an entire year of eligibility in 2011. He was UNC’s leading rusher in 2009 and has scored 17 touchdowns in his last 25 games. The Tar Heels also return Hunter Furr, Curtis Byrd and Devon Ramsay as options out of the backfield. 4 • TarHeelBlue.com