2023_North_Carolina_Tar_Heels_football_team

2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

American college football season


The 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels were led by head coach Mack Brown, who was in the fifth season of his second stint at North Carolina and 15th overall season at the university. The team played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Quick Facts North Carolina Tar Heels football, Duke's Mayo Bowl, L 10–30 vs. West Virginia ...
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Off-season

Coaching changes

After the ACC Championship Game, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Phil Longo accepted the same position at Wisconsin. Offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. followed Longo to Madison after one year in Chapel Hill.[1]

On December 14, 2022, the Tar Heels hired Randy Clements as the new offensive line coach,[2] and would also hire Chip Lindsey to fill the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach vacancy.[3] Along with the new hires, AHC/WR coach Lonnie Galloway added the title of pass game coordinator, and then-TE coach John Lilly added the title of run game coordinator.

Cornerbacks coach and Tar Heel football legend Dré Bly would leave the program in January,[4] and would be replaced in the position by Indiana safeties coach Jason Jones.[5]

In February, John Lilly left to take the TE coach position on Frank Reich's Carolina Panthers staff.[6] He was replaced four days later by former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens.[7] Kitchens was introduced officially on March 1, in the team's pre-spring practice press conference. Kitchens retains Lilly's former title of run game coordinator as well.

Former Tar Heel letterman and longtime NFL assistant Clyde Christensen joined the staff as a volunteer offensive analyst as well, after several seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[8]

The defensive staff was fortified also, as former NFL assistant coach Ted Monachino was hired as a defensive analyst.[9]

Departures

NFL Draft

The following Tar Heels were selected in the 2023 NFL draft.

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Transfers

Per NCAA guidance, players can enter the transfer portal in one of two windows. The first, a 45-day period following the conclusion of the sport's regular season, opened for football in December 2022 and closed in January 2023. A second, shorter transfer period opened on April 15, following the conclusion of spring practice.

Source: [10]

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‡ Entered transfer portal following the conclusion of spring practices.

«» Indicates player did not enroll at a new school.

Additions

Incoming transfers

Source:[10]

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Recruiting class

Source:[11]

North Carolina signed 20 players in the class of 2023. The Tar Heels' class finished 30th in the 247Sports composite rankings, 28th in the Rivals rankings, and 29th in the ESPN.com rankings. Four signees were ranked in the ESPN 300 prospect list.

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Personnel

Coaching Staff

North Carolina Tar Heels coaches
Mack BrownHead coach15th
Chip LindseyOffensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach1st
Freddie KitchensRun game coordinator/Tight ends coach1st
Randy ClementsOffensive line coach1st
Lonnie GallowayAssistant head coach/Pass Game coordinator/Wide receivers5th
Larry PorterSpecial Teams coordinator/Running backs3rd
Gene ChizikAHC/Defensive Coordinator4th
Charlton WarrenCo-defensive coordinator/Defensive backs coach2nd
Tommy ThigpenCo-defensive coordinator/Inside Linebackers coach6th
Tim CrossDefensive line coach5th
Jason JonesCornerbacks coach1st
Brian HessHead strength and conditioning coach5th
Sparky WoodsSenior advisor to head coach5th
Darrell MoodySenior advisor to head coach5th
Clyde ChristensenVolunteer Offensive Analyst1st
Ted MonachinoSenior Defensive Analyst1st
Reference:[12]

Roster

2023 North Carolina Tar Heels Football Roster

Quarterback

  • 10 Drake Mayesophomore (6'4, 225)
  • 12 Tad Hudson – freshman (6'2, 220)
  • 14 Jefferson Boaz – junior (6'7, 235)
  • 15 Conner HarrellRedshirt freshman (6'0, 200)
  • 16 Russell Tabor – sophomore (6'2, 215)

Running back

  • 4 Caleb Hood – junior (5'11, 225)
  • 21 Elijah Green – junior (5'11, 210)
  • 23 George Pettaway – sophomore (5'0, 195)
  • 24 British Brooks – graduate (5'11, 225)
  • 25 Kellan Hood – Redshirt freshman (5'10, 190)
  • 28 Omarion Hamptonsophomore (6'0, 220)
  • 34 Jordan Louie – freshman (5'10, 215)

Wide receiver

  • 0 Tychaun "Doc" Chapman – Redshirt freshman (5'9, 175)
  • 1 Andre Greene Jr. – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 200)
  • 2 Gavin Blackwell – sophomore (5'11, 180)
  • 3 Chris Culliver – freshman (6'1, 185)
  • 5 J.J. Jones – junior (6'2, 210)
  • 6 Nate McCollum – junior (5'8, 185)
  • 7 Christian Hamilton – freshman (5'11, 180)
  • 8 Kobe Paysour – sophomore (6'0, 185)
  • 9 Devontez "Tez" Walkerjunior (6'2, 195)
  • 11 Paul Billups II – freshman (6'1, 195)
  • 13 Tylee Craft – senior (6'5, 200)
  • 19 Grady Sherrill – Redshirt freshman (5'8, 180)
  • 20 Brooks Miller – sophomore (5'11, 180)
  • 27 Michael Hall – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 180)
  • 38 Aiden Cloninger – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 190)
  • 83 Josh Espindola – freshman (5'10, 170)
  • 84 Cyrus Rogers – sophomore (5'11, 185)
  • 85 Landon Stevens – junior (6'2, 200)
  • 86 Thomas Flynn – sophomore (6'3, 205)

Placekicker

  • 37 Liam Boyd – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 200)
  • 40 Ryan Coe – graduate (6'2, 220)
  • 90 Todd Pledger – sophomore (6'8, 210)
  • 98 Noah Burnette – junior (5'10, 175)

Punter

  • 91 Ben Kiernan – graduate (6'0, 210)
  • 92 Cole Maynard — sophomore (6'2, 172)
  • 96 Tom Maginness – sophomore (6'0, 205)
 

Tight end

  • 18 Bryson Nesbitjunior (6'5, 235)
  • 80 Julien Randolph – freshman (6'5, 220)
  • 81 John Copenhaver – junior (6'3, 240)
  • 82 Deems May – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 230)
  • 87 Cort Halsey – freshman (6'2, 215)
  • 88 Kamari Morales – graduate (6'2, 245)
  • 89 Cal Tierney – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 235)

Offensive line

  • 51 R.J. Grigsby – freshman (6'3, 315)
  • 52 Jonathan Adorno – senior (6'4, 315)
  • 53 Willie Lampkin – junior (5'11, 290)
  • 54 Chance Carroll – junior (6'2, 295)
  • 55 Zach Rice – Redshirt freshman (6'4, 315)
  • 60 Carter Kulka – sophomore (6'3, 270)
  • 61 Diego Pounds – sophomore (6'5, 330)
  • 63 Ed Montilus – graduate (6'3, 315)
  • 64 Malik McGowan – junior (6'3, 320)
  • 65 Corey Gaynor – graduate (6'3, 305)
  • 68 D.J. Geth – freshman (6'3, 305)
  • 69 Jarvis Hicks – Redshirt freshman (6'6, 295)'
  • 72 Nolan McConnell – freshman (6'6, 320)
  • 73 Eli Sutton – sophomore (6'6, 310)
  • 74 Justin Kanyuk – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 315)
  • 75 Spencer Rolland – graduate (6'6, 315)
  • 76 William Barnes – senior (6'4, 320)
  • 78 Trevyon Green – Redshirt freshman (6'7, 340)
  • 79 Bo Burkes – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 300)

Defensive line

  • 0 Tomari Fox – graduate (6'3, 300)
  • 4 Travis Shaw – sophomore (6'5, 335)
  • 5 Jahvaree Ritzie – junior (6'4, 295)
  • 8 Myles Murphy – senior (6'4, 310)
  • 10 Desmond Evans – senior (6'6, 275)
  • 12 Beau Atkinson – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 270)
  • 41 Kedrick Bingley-Jones – junior (6'4, 305)
  • 92 Rodney Lora – freshman (6'3, 275)
  • 93 Jacolbe Cowan – junior (6'4, 280)
  • 94 Joel Starlings – freshman (6'3, 280)
  • 96 Damon Bremer – freshman (6'2, 255)
  • 98 Kevin Hester Jr. – senior (6'3, 315)
 

Jack

  • 3 Amari Gainer – graduate (6'3, 235)
  • 14 Jaybron Harvey – freshman (6'3, 240)
  • 24 Malaki Hamrick – sophomore (6'2, 220)
  • 25 Kaimon Ruckersenior (6'1, 265)
  • 40 Tyler Thompson – freshman (6'5, 220)
  • 87 Colby Doreen – junior (6'4, 225)

Linebacker

  • 17 Amare Campbell – freshman (6'0, 230)
  • 23 Power Echols – junior (6'0, 225)
  • 30 Michael Short – freshman (6'3, 225)
  • 32 Sebastian Cheeks – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 220)
  • 33 Cedric Graysenior (6'2, 230)
  • 34 Caleb LaVallee – freshman (6'0, 225)
  • 36 Jalen Brooks – junior (5'10, 240)
  • 44 Randy "Deuce" Caldwell – sophomore (6'0, 230)
  • 45 Jake Harkleroad – graduate (5'10, 215)
  • 47 CJ Murphy – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 220)
  • 48 Milad Aghaiepour – sophomore (5'10, 225)
  • 52 Jonny Fritz – freshman (6'1, 190)
  • 53 Gibson Macrae – sophomore (5'11, 220)
  • 55 Cade Law – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 225)

Defensive back

  • 1 Antavious "Stick" Lane – graduate (5'9, 190)
  • 2 Don Chapman – senior (6'1, 200)
  • 6 Lejond Cavazos – junior (6'0, 200)
  • 7 Derrik Allen – graduate (6'1, 210)
  • 9 Armani Chatman – graduate (6'0, 205)
  • 11 Ty Adams – freshman (5'11, 175)
  • 13 Ayden Duncanson – freshman (6'0, 185)
  • 15 Tre Miller – freshman (5'10, 175)
  • 16 DeAndre Boykins – junior (5'11, 205)
  • 18 Christopher Holliday – junior (6'4, 220)
  • 20 Tayon Holloway – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 185)
  • 21 Kaleb Cost – freshman (5'10, 190)
  • 26 D.J. Jones – graduate (5'10, 200)
  • 27 Giovanni Biggers – graduate (6'1, 200)
  • 28 Alijah Huzziejunior (5'10, 200)
  • 29 Marcus Allen – sophomore (6'1, 200)
  • 31 Will Hardy – sophomore (6'2, 215)
  • 35 Jaden Selby – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 190)'
  • 37 Jack Blythe – freshman (6'2, 190)
  • 38 Naari Short – junior (5'8, 185)
  • 39 Major Byrd – freshman (5'9, 200)

Long snappers

  • 43 Garrett Jordan – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 225)
  • 61 Drew Little – graduate (5'11, 245)
  • 62 Spencer Triplett – junior (6'2, 235)

* North Carolina Tar Heels Football Roster as of 9/5/2023[13]

Schedule

The 2023 ACC conference football schedule was released on January 30, 2023.[14][15] The 2023 season will be the conference's first season under a new single-division format. The 3-5-5 model gives each team three set conference opponents to play every season, while playing the remaining ten teams twice (once at home and once on the road) in a four–year cycle. The Tar Heels' non-rotating opponents are all traditional rivalries: Duke, NC State, and Virginia.[16][17]

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[18]

Game summaries

vs. South Carolina (Duke's Mayo Classic, rivalry)

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Game One – No. 21 North Carolina Tar Heels (0-0) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (0-0) – Game summary

at Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
  • Game time: 7:44 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Clear • 85 °F (29 °C) • Wind: NE 3 MPH
  • Game attendance: 68,723
  • Referee: Jeff Heaser
  • TV announcers (ABC): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (color), Molly McGrath (sideline)
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Appalachian State

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Minnesota

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at Pittsburgh

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Syracuse

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Miami (FL)

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Virginia (South's Oldest Rivalry)

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at Georgia Tech

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Campbell

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Duke (Victory Bell)

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at Clemson

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at NC State (Rivalry)

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vs. West Virginia (Duke's Mayo Bowl)

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Rankings

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After the season

All-Conference Selections

Source:[19]

1st team

2nd team

3rd team

  • Willie Lampkin (OL)
  • Tez Walker (WR)
  • Power Echols (LB)

Honorable Mention

  • Spencer Rolland (OL)
  • Corey Gaynor (OL)
  • Myles Murphy (DT)
  • Alijah Huzzie (DB)

All-America Selections

  • Omarion Hampton (1st Team, WCFF; 2nd team CBS Sports, AP)

Departures

Transfer Portal Entries

The following members of the 2023 Tar Heel football team entered the transfer portal in the postseason window.[20]

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NFL draft entries

The following Tar Heel players announced plans to enter the 2024 NFL draft and forgo any remaining collegiate eligibility.

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Coaching Changes

Following continued defensive struggles under DC Gene Chizik in the 2023 season, both he and defensive line coach Tim Cross were dismissed after the team's bowl game. Senior Defensive Analyst Ted Monachino was elevated to the defensive line coaching position the same day Cross and Chizik's departures were announced.[21]

Former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins was hired to replace Chizik as defensive coordinator for the 2024 season.[22]

Senior advisor Darrell Moody retired after the season, and was replaced by former Tar Heel and NFL linebacker Brian Simmons in a similar advisory role to head coach Mack Brown.[23] Brown's other senior advisor, Sparky Woods also left the staff in late January.[24]


References

  1. Samuels, Doug (December 7, 2022). "Phil Longo to be Luke Fickell's offensive coordinator at Wisconsin". FootballScoop.com. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  2. "Carolina Football Names Randy Clements Offensive Line Coach". GoHeels.com. December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  3. "Chip Lindsey Hired As Offensive Coordinator". GoHeels.com. December 15, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  4. Hale, David M. (January 11, 2023). "Ex-UNC football star Dre Bly out as Tar Heels' CB coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  5. "Carolina Football Names Jason Jones Cornerbacks Coach". GoHeels.com. January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  6. Stone, Augusta (February 23, 2023). "Panthers add John Lilly to coaching staff". panthers.com. Carolina Panthers. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  7. Martin, Ross (February 27, 2023). "UNC to Hire Freddie Kitchens as New Tight End Coach". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. Smith, Adam (March 1, 2023). "NFL Coaching Veteran Clyde Christensen Joining UNC Staff as Analyst". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  9. Smith, Adam (March 7, 2023). "UNC Adding Ted Monachino from NFL Ranks to Improve Pass Rush". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  10. Martin, Ross (January 19, 2023). "UNC Transfer Portal Tracker: Who's Coming? Who's Going?". InsideCarolina.com. 247Sports. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  11. "North Carolina 2023 Football Commits". 247 Sports. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  12. "Football Coaches". University of North Carolina Athletics.
  13. "2023 Football Roster". goheels.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  14. "UNC football 2023 ACC schedule, opponents announced". The News & Observer. January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  15. Bergin, Mark (January 30, 2023). "Here are the 2023 football schedules for NC State, North Carolina and Duke". WRAL. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  16. "ACC Announces Football Schedule Model for 2023–26" (Press release). Atlantic Coast Conference. June 28, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  17. Murphy, Brian (June 28, 2022). "ACC eliminates football divisions, adopts new schedule model in 2023". WRAL. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  18. "Atlantic Coast Conference Announces 2023 All-ACC Football Teams". Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  19. Smith, Adam. "Tracker: UNC Football Players Entering Transfer Portal". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  20. Barnett, Zach (January 3, 2023). "Mack Brown announces major staff changes at North Carolina". footballscoop.com. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  21. "Geoff Collins Hired As Defensive Coordinator". University of North Carolina Athletics. January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  22. "UNC Legend Brian Simmons Joins Football Staff". GoHeels.com. University of North Carolina Athletics. January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  23. Smith, Adam (January 30, 2024). "Sparky Woods Leacing UNC Football Staff". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved February 1, 2024.

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