North Carolina is back at Kenan Stadium on Saturday, set to face East Tennessee State at 12 pm ET, and the Tar Heels have a few things worth watching after a mixed start to the season.
It’s been two weeks since UNC last took the field, when it edged TCU 15-10 in Dublin, Ireland. That opener gave the Tar Heels some good answers and a few clear concerns, which makes this matchup a useful one for spotting who can settle in and who can take a step forward.
One name to keep an eye on is the Lehigh transfer receiver, who didn’t have the debut he wanted. He caught just one pass for 11 yards against TCU, and the weather clearly worked against him as a downfield threat.
That shouldn’t erase what he showed in 2025, though, when he averaged 18.6 yards per reception. During camp, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Humphrey established himself as the obvious WR2, flashing big-play ability and red zone upside.
That part of his game didn’t show up in Dublin, but this weekend looks like the kind of matchup where he should be more active.
Another player under the microscope is veteran quarterback Max Johnson, the former Wisconsin signal caller who opened his North Carolina debut with real juice. He completed 6-of-10 passes for 122 yards in the first quarter alone, then the rain hit and his efficiency dropped.
Over the final three quarters, Edwards Jr. went 10-of-18 for 110 yards. The start was electric, the finish much less so.
Against East Tennessee State, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback has a chance to put together a much bigger outing, but the focus shouldn’t be only on the box score. What matters is how he runs the offense, whether he keeps UNC ahead of the chains, and how often he takes shots down the field.
It’s also a chance for him to experiment a little and start building confidence.
In the backfield, Hall is another player who needs a cleaner showing. He handled most of the work against TCU, logging 11 carries for 36 yards, and that wasn’t nearly enough.
The 5-foot-11, 230-pound junior’s role isn’t in danger, but the production has to come. Running the ball was a problem in Week 0, and Hall was at the center of it.
These are the kinds of non-conference games where UNC needs to iron out issues before tougher opponents show up, and Saturday gives Hall a chance to answer back.
In Other News...
UNC Opens Home Slate With A Worry Fans Will Be Watching
UNCs first home game of the season is already carrying a bit of extra attention, and not just because its the home opener. Melkart Abou Jaoude is not expected to play against ETSU after suffering a hand injury in the Week 0 loss to TCU, a setback that showed up quickly enough for him to be seen wearing a cast afterward. Its the kind of early-season issue that can change how a defense is deployed before the rhythm of the year has even settled in.
The good news for the Tar Heels is that the absence appears short-term, with Abou Jaoude expected to be ready for next weeks ACC opener against Clemson. In the meantime, UNC will turn to other defensive players to cover his spot in the opener, a useful chance to see who can handle a larger role if the rotation has to be adjusted again later. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Face A Huge Recruiting Test In Crowded 2027 Battle
DeMarcus Henry Jr. has already become one of the more closely watched names in the Class of 2027, and North Carolina is in the middle of a crowded race for the highly ranked prospect. The wings strong showings in various events have only sharpened the attention around him, and his recruiting board already includes a deep list of heavyweights such as Arkansas, BYU, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State and UConn.
His recent visit to UConn is another reminder that this battle is going to be fought everywhere, and the Tar Heels will have to stay aggressive if they want to keep themselves in the mix. North Carolina is also working on the next wave of talent, with Class of 2028 guard Michai White picking up an offer from Syracuse after the Orange visited his school, a small sign of how quickly the recruiting board is expanding around the program. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Face A Real Focus Test In Home Opener
North Carolinas first home game arrives with more attention on the programs off-field turbulence than on the matchup itself, even as the Tar Heels try to settle into a normal game-week rhythm against ETSU. The football side still has to move forward, and that means using the opener to clean up a run game that needs to show more consistency while the staff keeps the focus on Saturday.
Bill Belichick is handling defensive play-calling with Steve Belichick on medical leave, a wrinkle that only adds to the uncertainty around a program already dealing with an investigation and the resignation of general manager Michael Lombardi. For a team trying to establish some early-season calm, the home opener is as much a test of concentration as execution, and North Carolina will have to show it can block out the noise long enough to play its game. [Read more 🡒]