Linebacker Chase Rice has been lost for the season following surgery to repair the knee he injured against James Madison.
"I'm disappointed for Chase and for our program," said head coach Butch Davis. "He was significant on special teams and played well in the ball game Saturday. I hate losing him."
Tough break for Rice and also for a defense that was playing with a fairly thin deck of cards to begin with. Now UNC has to lean upon a true freshman in the person of Bruce Carter. According to Inside Carolina Carter is actually a class of 2006 recruit who "greyshirted" due to a knee injury of his own and actually did not enroll at UNC until January, 2007. So while technically a true freshman he has gone through spring practice and the full summer at UNC to get ready for the season. Carter had one tackle on Saturday versus JMU.
In brighter news QB T.J. Yates was named ACC Rookie of the Week for his performance in the 37-14 win over JMU. Yates showed great poise in lighting up the Dukes secondary for 2 TDs and 218 yards on 13-18 passing with only one INT. His first real test comes this weekend in Greenville where undoubtedly he will feel more pressure from the Pirate front seven and there is also a possibility of rain.