With North Carolina’s training camp still a month away, the Tar Heels are sitting in a quiet stretch before a season that looms large in Chapel Hill. In the meantime, Sports Illustrated rolled out its top 50 college football players of all time over the weekend, and one former Tar Heel made the cut.
That player is Blanchard, the only North Carolina name to land inside the top 50. His inclusion stands out because his football résumé is as unusual as it is impressive.
Blanchard played four positions, a level of versatility that feels almost impossible by modern standards. The closest current comparison in the league is the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Travis Hunter, who lines up at both wide receiver and cornerback.
What makes Blanchard even more remarkable is the breadth of what he did for his team and beyond the field. He was a key part of his team’s success, and he also flew over 100 missions during the Vietnam War, a staggering reminder of the sacrifices he made for the country.
His name may not jump off the page for everyone, but Sports Illustrated still placed him among the top 40 college football players of all time. That kind of ranking says plenty about the impact he had on the sport, even if newer fans may not know his story.
Blanchard’s time at North Carolina was brief. He played only on the Tar Heels’ freshman team before enlisting in the US Army and later continuing his career at West Point. Still, his football journey began in Chapel Hill.
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Hubert Davis Finally Addressed The Caleb Wilson Debate UNC Fans Feared
Caleb Wilsons strong showing in NBA Summer League has only sharpened the conversation around what kind of pro he can become, and it has also kept his North Carolina exit in the spotlight. Hubert Davis has been clear that he is proud of Wilsons progress, praising the forwards character and competitiveness while pointing to the kind of growth that has made him look like a future NBA player.
Wilsons earlier comments about his role at North Carolina not emphasizing three-point shooting have lingered in the background, feeding a broader debate about coaching and player development. Davis, for his part, has tried to keep the focus on Wilsons talent and trajectory rather than any lingering tension, which is why the subject still feels like one Tar Heels fans will keep circling until it is fully settled. [Read more 🡒]
Did Drake Powell Leave UNC Before His Offense Was Ready
Drake Powells first summer as a pro has looked a lot like the version of him that made him such an intriguing draft pick in the first place: long, explosive and disruptive on defense. The rookie taken 22nd overall has flashed the athleticism that made him a first-rounder, but his offensive game is still very much a work in progress, and that showed up again during NBA Summer League.
A recent 18-point outing offered a reminder of what Powell can do when the shot is falling, but it did not erase the bigger concern around his comfort level as a scorer. He still looks uneasy putting the ball on the floor and creating against a defender, which is why the question lingers for North Carolina fans: would another year in Chapel Hill, with a bigger role and more offensive reps, have helped him arrive in the league more ready for the next step? [Read more 🡒]
This Tar Heel Could Change Everything About UNCs Passing Game
North Carolina is heading toward training camp with plenty still to sort out on offense, and the passing game may end up being the biggest swing factor of all. Bobby Petrino has reason to feel encouraged about the personnel he has to work with, especially after the Tar Heels added pieces through the transfer portal and brought in a receiver in Humphrey from Lehigh who is expected to fit in quickly alongside Jordan Shipp.
What makes the next few weeks so interesting is that the quarterback job is still open, with Billy Edwards Jr., Travis Burgess and Miles ONeill all in the mix. However that battle settles, the Tar Heels are clearly trying to build a more dangerous aerial attack, and Humphrey looks like one of the newcomers who could help change the shape of it once camp gets going. [Read more 🡒]