North Carolina heads into its Week 8 meeting with Syracuse with a little more breathing room than it has had lately, but there’s still plenty to monitor for the Tar Heels on Saturday. After runs against Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Duke, this one looks more manageable on paper. Syracuse comes in at 2-4, and the quarterback situation remains a major question mark.
For UNC, the focus starts with Gio Lopez Edwards Jr. The Wisconsin transfer got North Carolina rolling last week against Duke, helping the Tar Heels build a 17-0 lead.
He finished the first half 9-of-14 for 101 yards and a touchdown, then cooled off after halftime as the offense went back into one of its familiar lulls. In a friendlier matchup, he has a chance to carry that early success forward.
Another name to keep an eye on is freshman cornerback D’Antres Dopson III. North Carolina’s secondary has taken a hit with injuries in recent weeks, and several starters were lost against Pittsburgh and Duke.
Dopson III, a six-foot, 200-pound defender who originally committed to Miami before flipping to UNC, logged 65 snaps against Duke, his season high. He made the most of the extra work, finishing with seven total tackles and the interception that sealed the game.
With Tre Miller out and more defensive backs in question, he should be on the field plenty again.
The backfield situation is also worth watching. Benjamin Hall left the Duke game in the first quarter with an injury and did not return, though he has since been upgraded to probable. If he isn’t fully ready, McGill could handle the early-down work while Demon June takes on the third-down and goal-line role.
McGill’s night against Duke was uneven at first. He struggled through the first three quarters and even put the ball on the ground late in the third, a fumble that kept North Carolina from stretching the lead to two possessions.
But the staff stuck with him, and he ended up as the primary back on the game-winning drive. McGill responded with three carries for 44 yards, highlighted by a 24-yard touchdown that sent UNC to the win.
His usage should be one of the bigger things to track against Syracuse.
In Other News...
UNC Landed A Guard Whose Road To Chapel Hill Suddenly Changed
Kevin Thomas arrived at North Carolina with a path that changed quickly, even by recruiting standards. The four-star guard had originally pledged to LSU, but once the Tigers fired Matt McMahon and brought in Will Wade, he asked for a release and reset his plans. UNC emerged as the destination, giving Thomas a fresh start in Chapel Hill and placing him in a program that now has him under Michael Malones staff while also putting him back alongside former high school teammate Matt Able.
For a newcomer still settling into college basketball, the first glimpse of Thomas in a Tar Heels uniform came in an exhibition setting, where he logged four minutes and showed the kind of defensive activity that can earn a young guard more chances. It was only a small opening, but it offered UNC a preview of a player whose road to Chapel Hill took an unexpected turn and whose next steps will be watched closely as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Left Frustrated After Costly Home Loss To ACC Rival
North Carolinas field hockey team had plenty of offense in a 4-3 home loss to Wake Forest at Karen Shelton Stadium, but it was not enough to keep pace in an ACC matchup that turned into a track meet. Ryleigh Heck scored twice for the Tar Heels, and Coco Courtright added another, giving Carolina enough punch to stay in it throughout the afternoon.
Mia Schoenbecks hat trick powered Wake Forest, and the result left North Carolina with little time to dwell on a frustrating setback on its home turf. The Tar Heels now turn their attention to Appalachian State, looking to reset quickly after a game that came down to which side could finish its chances. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Front Line Just Sent An Encouraging Message In Homecoming Win
North Carolinas front line gave the Tar Heels plenty to feel good about in a homecoming win over California, one that ended with a 3-1 set score and a noticeable lift from several key contributors. Laynie Smith powered her way to a career-best 14 kills, while Addison West added a career-high 12, giving the No. 23 Tar Heels the kind of balanced attack that can carry them as the season moves forward.
Mike Schall and his players pointed to the performance as a sign of progress, especially with several individuals stepping into bigger roles on the home floor. For a team looking to build momentum, the encouraging part is not just the result against California, but the way North Carolinas front line answered the moment and left room for even more as the schedule continues. [Read more 🡒]