UNC’s commit class turned in a clean weekend across the board, even as the Tar Heels took a 28-20 loss in Death Valley. The top five commit performances all came in wins, and several of them featured big-play production on both sides of the ball.
Noah Spinks was the most efficient of the bunch. The quarterback for Summer Creek in Texas needed only 10 passes to make a major impact in a 73-0 win over Channelview, finishing 7-of-10 for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
With so few attempts, he still managed to average just under half a touchdown per completion. At 6-foot and 200 pounds, Spinks keeps showing the kind of efficient play that has made him stand out in a demanding Texas football environment.
Amare Patterson also made his presence felt in a big way for Bluffton. UNC’s top-ranked commit caught six passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns in a 64-6 win over P.K.
Yonge, with his longest grab going for 44 yards. Patterson wasn’t limited to offense, either.
He added 45 punt return yards, helping Bluffton set up with better field position throughout the night.
On defense, Theo Wilson delivered one of the most complete performances of the weekend in Armwood’s 43-6 win over Sumner. The three-star linebacker posted five total tackles, including two tackles for loss, while also recording a quarterback hurry.
His biggest moment came on a scoop and score, when he recovered a fumble and took it in for six. Sumner’s front line was under pressure all game, and Wilson was a major reason why.
Tasheem Butler followed a similar path in Glassboro’s 41-6 win over Cedar Creek. The three-star linebacker finished with six total tackles, five of them solo, and added two tackles for loss. He may not have piled up eye-popping numbers, but he was a steady force in the middle of a defense that shut down Cedar Creek’s running game.
Chad Willis rounded out the list with a splash play for St. Mary’s Prep in its 42-7 win over St.
Francis de Sales. The 6-foot-3 receiver, known for his speed, got loose for one of St.
Mary’s two receiving touchdowns of 50 yards or more. That explosive grab served as the signature moment in his Friday performance.
In Other News...
UNC Fans Have A Bigger Billy Edwards Jr. Concern Than One Bad Finish
The final throw against Clemson will stick with North Carolina fans for a while, but the bigger question around Billy Edwards Jr. is not one bad finish. The quarterbacks first interception of the year came at the worst possible moment in a game the Tar Heels could not close out, yet he remains the starter as the season moves forward and UNC keeps building around him.
What makes this situation more delicate is Edwards Jr.'s track record and the importance of depth behind him. The Tar Heels have sophomore backup Miles O'Neill available if needed, but the conversation in Chapel Hill is less about one late mistake than it is about whether Edwards Jr. can stay on the field and keep the offense steady over the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Grades Exposed A Bigger Concern Than The Clemson Collapse
The film grades from UNCs loss to Clemson do offer a few bright spots, even if the final result still stings. Junior safety Greg Smith led the defense with a 90.0 grade after helping force turnovers, while senior running back Benjamin Hall posted a career-best rushing performance and earned a 77.3 offensive grade. Beyond those two, the snap counts and individual grades paint a fuller picture of where the Tar Heels found some resistance and where they were repeatedly put on their heels.
For a team trying to sort out what went wrong, the bigger concern is less about one bad afternoon and more about the uneven stretches that showed up across the roster. The breakdown of who played well, who held up, and who struggled points to a Tar Heels group that still has answers to find on both sides of the ball, even as a few individual performances suggest there is at least something to build on. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Already Has One Debate Fans Cant Ignore
After three games, North Carolina has given its fans a pretty familiar early-season split between hope and concern. The Tar Heels are 2-1 with wins over TCU and East Tennessee State, and Xavier Lewis has already emerged as a bright spot by leading the ACC in sacks, but the offense has not come close to matching that energy.
Billy Edwards Jr. has thrown for 476 yards in three games, and the quarterback play remains the clearest issue hanging over the teams outlook. With Clemson already handing UNC its loss, the Tar Heels look like a group that can flash enough to stay interesting, but one that still has plenty to sort out before the schedule gets any less demanding. [Read more 🡒]