Inside Carolina has posted the depth chart for UNC heading into practice which begins on Friday. Here are some of my observations on the personnel.
- The offensive line, which basically determines whether or not the offense can actually function, is a mix of youth and experienced linemen. A senior and junior are battling for center. Three sophomores and a junior make up the left side of the line with two juniors and two redshirt freshmen comprise the right.
- The QB battle will be interesting and something that Butch Davis has said will be decided right away in an effort to maximize the preseason to acclimate the offense to the new QB and vice versa. T.J. Yates is the favorite as much as anyone can be since he performed well in the spring game. Having seen Cam Sexton during extended periods last season I am of the opinion it will take some serious work for his to quell doubts about his ability to run the team. At the same time having Davis and his staff running things might help. I expect Mike Paulus to hold a clipboard unless he is just freaking impressive.
- If they can come up with a good QB, the receiving corps looks solid. Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate are solid receivers. Joe Dailey will be an experiment for sure but I actually think there is potential to go along with his experience.
- No Barrington Edwards listed in the backfield and a grand total of six rushing attempts can be found among the players listed at the three backfield positions. If Edwards is done and suspect he is then it falls on Richie Rich to carry most of the running load. The inexperience in the backfield is going to make the offensive line protection and the passing game are going to hugely important to making the offense productive.
- Defensively, UNC returns team leader in tackles Durrell Mapp who will play alongside a group of linebackers with some experience but recorded just one sack in 2006. Hilee Taylor, Kyndraus Guy, Kentwan Balmer and EJ Wilson form a solid front four for the Heels and accounted for 9 of the 23 sacks registered a season ago. The secondary will be the real question given the youth and the fact not one of the returning players had an INT last season.
- Connor Barth is back to kick the football. Barth has the leg but his head and consistency are in question.
Full depth chart after the jump.
OFFENSE
Left Tackle
72 - Kyle Jolly (6-6, 300, So., Powhatan, Va.) OR
78 - Andre Barbour (6-6, 285, So., Atlanta, Ga.)
Left Guard
76 - Bryon Bishop (6-3, 300, Jr., Union, S.C.) OR
73 - Aaron Stahl (6-3, 295, So., Venice, Fla.)
Center
64 - Scott Lenahan (6-1, 290, Sr., Marietta, Ga.) OR
63 - Ben Lemming (6-5, 295, Jr., Houston, Texas)
Right Guard
79 - Calvin Darity (6-3, 300, Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.)
70 - Alan Pelc (6-6, 305, Fr.*, Houston, Texas)
Right Tackle
75 - Garrett Reynolds (6-7, 295, Jr., Knoxville, Tenn.)
66 - Mike Ingersoll (6-4, 280, Fr.*, Mint Hill, N.C.)
Tight End
89 - Richard Quinn (6-4, 250, So., Maple Heights, Ohio)
84 - Vince Jacobs (6-6, 235, Fr.*, Charlotte, N.C.)
H-Back
49 - Ryan Taylor (6-3, 230, So., Winston-Salem, N.C.)
17 - Zach Pianalto (6-4, 230, Fr., Springdale, Ark.)
Quarterback
13 - T.J. Yates (6-3, 205, Fr.*, Marietta, Ga.) OR
11 - Cameron Sexton (6-1, 190, So., Laurinburg, N.C.)
7 - Mike Paulus (6-5, 220, Fr., Syracuse, N.Y.)
Fullback
4 - Bobby Rome (5-11, 255, So., Norfolk, Va.)
45 - Devon Ramsay (6-2, 240, Fr., Red Bank, N.J.)
Tailback
26 - Richie Rich (5-9, 195, So., Marietta, Ga.) OR
6 - Anthony Elzy (5-10, 210, Fr.*, Warren, Ohio)
32 - Ryan Houston (6-2, 245, Fr., Matthews, N.C.)
Wide Receiver
88 - Hakeem Nicks (6-1, 215, So., Charlotte, N.C.)
12 - Joe Dailey (6-1, 210, Sr., Jersey City, N.J.)
Wide Receiver
87 - Brandon Tate (6-1, 195, Jr., Burlington, N.C.)
1 - Brooks Foster (6-3, 205, Jr., Boiling Springs, S.C.)
DEFENSE
Left End
33 - Hilee Taylor (6-3, 245, Sr., Lauringburg, N.C.)
98 - Darrius Massenburg (6-3, 280, Fr.*, Roanoke Rapids, N.C.)
40 - Darius Powell (6-2, 230, Fr.*, Waldorf, Md.)
Defensive Tackle
74 - Kyndraus Guy (6-2, 290, Sr., Hope Mills, N.C.) OR
97 - Aleric Mullins (6-3, 295, So., Caruthersville, Mo.)
96 - Tavares Brown (6-0, 290, So., Rockingham, N.C.)
Defensive Tackle
90 - Kentwan Balmer (6-5, 295, Sr., Weldon, N.C.)
93 - Cam Thomas (6-4, 325, So., Eagle Springs, N.C.) OR
9 - Marvin Austin (6-3, 295, Fr., Washington, D.C.)
Right End
92 - E.J. Wilson (6-2, 265, So., Lawrenceville, Va.) OR
95 - Greg Elleby (6-4, 285, Fr.*, Tabor City, N.C.)
56 - Garrett White (6-2, 240, Jr., Miami, Fla.)
Will Linebacker
48 - Durell Mapp (6-2, 225, Sr., Burlington, N.C.)
21 - Martel Thatch (6-2, 215, Sr., Greensboro, N.C.)
Mike Linebacker
51 - Wesley Flagg (6-0, 240, So., Fayetteville, N.C.)
41 - Mark Paschal (6-0, 230, Jr., Charlotte, N.C.) OR
52 - Quan Sturdivant (6-2, 230, Fr., Oakboro, N.C.)
Sam Linebacker
44 - Chase Rice (6-3, 220, Jr., Asheville, N.C.) OR
54 - Bruce Carter (6-3, 220, Fr., Havelock, N.C.)
Cornerback
38 - Jermaine Strong (5-10, 185, So., Shelby, N.C.) OR
14 - Kendric Williams (5-11, 195, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.)
Strong Safety
20 - Shaun Draughn (6-0, 205, Fr.*, Tarboro, N.C.)
30 - Bryan Dixon (5-11, 205, So., Tabor City, N.C.)
Free Safety
31 - Trimane Goddard (5-11, 195, Jr., Robersonville, N.C.)
27 - Deunta Williams (6-2, 195, Fr.*, Jacksonville, Fla.)
Cornerback
16 - Kendric Burney (5-9, 180, Fr.*, Jacksonville, N.C.) OR
2 - Cooter Arnold (5-10, 190, So., Mocksville, N.C.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Place-kicker
10 - Connor Barth (6-1, 190, Sr., Wilmington, N.C.)
Kickoffs
10 - Connor Barth (6-1, 190, Sr., Wilmington, N.C.)
Punter
19 - Terrence Brown (6-3, 190, Jr., Fresno, Calif.)
86 - John Choate (6-2, 190, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.)
Deep Snapper
57 - Ryan Baucom (5-11, 180, Sr., Rockingham, N.C.) OR
61 - Michael Murphy (6-2, 230, Sr., Goldsboro, N.C.)
Kick Off Return
87 - Brandon Tate (6-1, 195, Jr., Burlington, N.C.)
Punt Return
87 - Brandon Tate (6-1, 195, Jr., Burlington, N.C.)