UNC Training Camp: Receivers Expected to be Loud–On and Off the Field

Fresh off its first full-team scrimmage on Sunday, the UNC football team resumed training camp Monday morning with a clearer picture starting to develop of this year’s Tar Heel roster.

And if there’s one thing that can be said for certain about this year’s team just six days into practice–it’s that the deep stable of wide receivers will be making noise in many different ways.

Depth is a key component in UNC Head Coach Larry Fedora’s high-tempo offense, and luckily for the Tar Heels, they have plenty of it flanking quarterback Marquise Williams.

Senior Quinshad Davis, along with juniors Bug Howard and Mack Hollins, give the team three targets outside the numbers standing at least 6-foot-4, with the other main pass-catcher being 5-foot-10 whirling dervish Ryan Switzer out of the slot. That kind of talent leads to some great battles in practice, Davis says.

“Shoot, we all considered number one [receivers],” Davis said after practice Monday. “I wouldn’t say nobody is better than the other. But I mean, we all push each other to the limit, because we all know its competition. We got each other breathing down each other’s back. All that does is make each one of us better.”

Williams, the man who gets to throw to all these freakishly athletic receivers, has noticed the same thing from his spot behind the line of scrimmage.

“Those guys have been running routes tremendously well,” Williams told reporters about the improvements he’s seen in his receivers. “Bug [Howard], Quinshad [Davis], and Mack [Hollins]—those are big receivers. They feel like if you throw the ball in their area, they gonna come down with it. And that’s what I love about them the most. They gonna compete for everything.”

Each of the Tar Heels’ top four receivers (Switzer, Davis, Howard, and Hollins) caught at least 35 passes and gained at least 450 yards last season, which may not seem like much, but it is when you consider that there’s only one ball to spread around.

However, there are other attributes that Coach Fedora appreciates about his experienced receivers.

“Quinshad Davis, Mack Hollins, I mean all those guys that have experience. They’re very vocal. And they have no problem being vocal—and leading,” Fedora said.

Although it often falls into the lap of the quarterback to talk a lot and keep the team loose, Williams is quick to point out that the receivers have that job locked down on this team.

“Mack, he’s one of the funniest guys,” Williams said. “He’s always gonna run his mouth. But that’s Mack, and we love that. We need that.

“Quinshad and Bug bring the energy,” he added. “Bug’s one of those guys that’s always dancing and thinking everything’s funny. That’s what you need around a team. You can’t have a dull moment. Like I was telling those guys today, ‘Y’all quiet like we at a funeral, man. Let’s have some fun ‘cause you don’t get this opportunity too many times’.”

On top of that, Howard often hosts dance competitions in the locker room to help ease tensions. But it’s not always fun and games. Sometimes, business gets in the way.

When it’s time to buckle down and focus on football, that’s where Davis, the senior, steps in.

“I mean, we joke and laugh around—but [we] know there’s a time to play and a time to be serious. So I just let the guys have fun and enjoy themselves, but I let ‘em know when it’s time to go, it’s time to go,” Davis said.

Asked what the receivers needed to improve on the most for 2015, Howard–definitely not a man lacking confidence–thought to himself for about ten seconds before conceding that he didn’t really know, outside of cleaning up a few simple errors.

Only time will tell if that’s true or not, but right now the Tar Heels’ receiving corps are feeling (really) good about themselves heading into the heart of training camp.

Up Next:

Wednesday is Media Day for the Tar Heels, so WCHL will be out there to cover all of the important (and not-so-important) things that happen out there. Coach Fedora will be holding a press conference during the proceedings.

Camp Notes:

• Fedora said that Quinshad Davis is feeling good coming off surgery for his broken leg suffered against Rutgers in UNC’s bowl game last December.
• A reporter asked Davis if the metal rods inserted into his leg are flagged by airport security. With a laugh, Davis said no.
• The defensive line has been making waves on that side of the ball, getting singled out by Fedora after practice for their impressive work so far.