North Carolina didn’t get another live look after its Week 0 win over TCU, and that makes this weekend’s matchup with East Tennessee State a useful checkpoint for a Tar Heels team still sorting itself out.
The biggest issue from the Horned Frogs game was easy to spot: North Carolina got pushed around on the ground. Jeremy Payne ripped off 142 yards on 25 carries, and while the Tar Heels settled in better after halftime, that kind of production is still too much to allow. Jaden Craig didn’t exactly light it up through the air, either, which made the run game’s success even more costly for North Carolina.
There was one stretch where Bobby Petrino’s offense looked sharp. Billy Edwards Jr. went 6-of-10 for 122 yards in the first quarter, and North Carolina came away with 10 points on its first three drives.
After that, though, the rhythm disappeared. Over the next three quarters, the Tar Heels managed only five points and struggled badly on third down.
The weather played a role, but that still has to be cleaner in the weeks ahead, especially once ACC play arrives.
Another area worth watching is how spread out the passing game becomes. Against TCU, Edwards Jr. finished 16-of-28 for 232 yards, and most of the damage came through Jordan Shipp, Jelani Thurman and Trech Kekahuna. Thurman and Shipp combined for nine catches and 165 yards, which tells the story of just how concentrated the offense was.
That leaves Mason Humphrey as a player to monitor against East Tennessee State. He caught only one pass for 11 yards against TCU, but his profile is different from the others.
The former Lehigh receiver averaged 18.6 yards per catch last season, and the rain clearly didn’t help him. This weekend should be a better chance to get him involved.
In Other News...
UNC Off-Field Turmoil Just Added Another Concern For Bill Belichick
North Carolinas football program is already navigating an uneasy stretch off the field, and now it has another self-imposed restriction layered onto the mix. The Tar Heels announced they will not host any unofficial visits for the upcoming game against East Tennessee State after a past recruiting violation, adding another administrative headache as Bill Belichick tries to settle in and focus attention on the season.
Michael Lombardis resignation has already reshaped the programs front office, and the new recruiting limitation only adds to the sense of churn around Chapel Hill. It also comes separate from the ongoing investigation involving defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, leaving UNC with multiple issues to manage at once while the on-field product tries to find some stability. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Misses On A Five-Star Guard Who Was Firmly In The Mix
NaVorro Bowman Jr., one of the top guards in the Class of 2027, is off the board early after committing to UConn, ending a recruiting battle that had included North Carolina, Texas and Arizona. The five-star prospect, ranked No. 11 in his class, had been firmly in the mix for the Tar Heels and was scheduled to visit Illinois before backing off that trip and making his choice.
For UNC, it is another reminder of how quickly the market can move on elite young guards, especially when a player commits this far out. Bowmans decision also gives other programs a clearer path as they recalibrate their recruiting boards, while North Carolina keeps working the class without one of the names it had targeted most aggressively. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Lands Another Huge Recruiting Chance In Massive Weekend For Malone
A busy recruiting weekend is bringing two of the top names in the 2027 class to Chapel Hill, and North Carolina is right in the middle of both pursuits. Five-star guard Jordan Page is scheduled to take an official visit to UNC this weekend, and he will be on campus with fellow five-star prospect CJ Rosser, giving the Tar Heels a chance to make a strong impression on a pair of elite targets at the same time.
For a program that keeps leaning into the top end of the high school market, the timing matters as much as the names. UNC has shown strong interest in both Page and Rosser throughout the 2027 cycle, and this trip gives the staff another chance to build on that momentum as the Tar Heels keep working to line up commitments from premier talent. [Read more 🡒]