As the UNC football team opened its preseason training camp Monday morning, all eyes were focused on senior quarterback Marquise Williams. Motivated by a disappointing finish to 2014, the dual-threat signal caller is expected to lead the way this year on a Tar Heel roster loaded with experience.

After toying with the idea of a two-quarterback system at times during last season’s 6-7 finish, UNC Head Coach Larry Fedora has given Williams the keys to the offense heading into 2015—noting the tremendous growth in Williams’ leadership ability.

“I didn’t necessarily just see [Williams’ leadership gains] today,” Fedora said. “I mean, that’s been happening all offseason, all summer, everything. He just knows he feels like its his team and he’s stepped up. He’s got more confidence, and when you have more confidence everybody wants to follow a leader that’s confident.”

Despite splitting time with backup Mitch Trubisky to begin last year, Williams finished the season with over 3000 passing yards, while also picking up 788 on the ground—but struggled to find consistency week in and week out.

Entering his final season in Chapel Hill, Williams is hungry to prove that he can take his game to another level while under the spotlight.

Williams will be unafraid to lean on experienced teammates (like junior WR Ryan Switzer) when things get tough. (Elliott Rubin)

Williams will be unafraid to lean on experienced teammates (like junior WR Ryan Switzer) when things get tough. (Elliott Rubin)

“I’m excited,” Williams said, smiling. “This is my last go-round, and I feel like there’s a chip. I still have more to prove to others that believe I can’t do it. And I’m excited to do that.”

Refusing to shy away from his lofty ambitions for this season, Williams has his eyes set on bringing home all kinds of hardware—both individually and with the team.

“The goal for myself is to, you know, be the ACC Player of the Year and make First-Team All-ACC,” the confident Williams said after practice concluded Monday. “But my main goal is to take us to the ACC Championship–something that’s never been done here. And also play for a [National Championship]. This year it’s looking like we’re gonna be down in Charlotte [for the ACC Title Game] come December.”

While it’s quite the stretch to think the Tar Heels have any shot at winning a national title (with conference hopes not much brighter), their success will largely be determined by how well their quarterback can perform. So if Marquise Williams ends up being the ACC Player of the Year, you can also safely assume the team will win its share of games to go along with it.

A Second-Team All-ACC selection a year ago, Williams will spearhead Coach Fedora’s high-flying attack notorious for making scoreboards, and opposing defenses, work up a sweat. He won’t have to do it by himself, however, as the Tar Heels bring back every offensive starter from 2014—something that has not been lost on their quarterback.

“It’s not about me, it’s about those guys surrounding me,” Williams said. “I don’t have to do anything flashy as the quarterback. Just put the ball in Ryan Switzer’s hands, or get it off to T.J. [Logan], or Elijah [Hood], Mack Hollins, or Quinshad Davis. Those the guys right there that’s gonna make this team this year. I just gotta play my part and do my role.”

With all of that experience returning, Williams doesn’t hesitate when pointing out the biggest difference he sees in his teammates so far this offseason.

“I’ve never seen a group of guys excited to get back to training camp,” he said. “In my five years here, guys usually dread training camp–like ‘Man, it’s the hardest thing’, but everybody’s excited, everybody’s ready to learn, and everybody’s ready to come out and compete. And that’s what it is. When we compete against each other, we cannot be stopping.”

Up Next:

Later on this week, we’ll check out the new-look defense led by defensive coordinator Gene Chizik–a controversial hire by the school, but a man that has won a pair of national championships (as the head coach at Auburn in 2010, and as a co-defensive coordinator at Texas in 2005).

Camp Notes:

  • Senior cornerback Malik Simmons was in uniform on Monday morning, after being reinstated to the team following a suspension for two misdemeanor arrests this offseason. He practiced with the backups, however, which was something Coach Fedora would not comment on.
  • Quinshad Davis practiced at wide receiver as he eases himself back into action following a broken leg in the 2014 finale against Rutgers. Fedora said that Davis is still not quite ready for game action.