Fourth-and-blog

18 days to Camp Rantoul

Posted by: Bob Asmussen

Saturday, July 18, 2009 4:33 PM

No. 18: North Carolina

Why I like the Tar Heels: Butch Davis seems to have the program turned. North Carolina went 8-5 last season and played well in a bowl game loss to West Virginia. Starting quarterback T.J. Yates returns. So does the top running back from 2008, Shaun Draughn. Three-fifths of the starting offensive line returns to protect Yates, who has had injury troubles in the past. Nine starters are back on defense, including defensive end Marvin Austin and linebackers Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter. The nonconference schedule includes only one tester: East Carolina. And that one is at home. The Tar Heels play two games against Division I-AA teams and travel to UConn.

Why I don't: Star receiver Hakeem Nicks is gone. So is No. 2 receiver Brooks Foster. While Austin was a big-time recruit, he hasn't quite lived up to his reputation. Sure, the defense returns nine starters. But those guys were part of the reason the Tar Heels were just 64th in the nation in total defense and 84th against the pass. The conference schedule is difficult, with trips to top ACC challengers Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Plus, the annual grudge match against North Carolina State is in Raleigh.

To see No. 19, click here.

To see No. 20, click here.

To see No. 21, click here.

To see No. 22, click here.

To see No, 23, click here.

To see No. 24, click here.

To see No. 25, click here.

To see No. 26, click here.

To see No. 27, click here.

To see No. 28, click here.

To see No. 29, click here

To see No. 30, click here

 

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