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The stars are beginning to come out for Carolina football.
For a team that is picked to finish eighth in the ACC, the Tar Heels have been festooned with preseason honors, from the league’s leading returning rusher Omarion Hampton, to linebacker Power Echols, to tight ends Bryson Nesbit and John Copenhaver, to wide receiver Kobe Paysour. And, unlike the last five years, there is no all-star quarterback in sight.
Hampton, who rushed for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023, was named to the Doak Walker Watch List for the accolade he nearly won last season. The award is named for Doak Walker, the three-time All-American running back for SMU, which is beginning its first athletic season as a new member of the ACC.
The junior from Clayton was named to the preseason All-ACC and All-American teams along with nominations for Maxwell and Walter Camp awards. He also finished the 2023 campaign with 29 pass receptions for 222 yards and another touchdown. He led the ACC with 253 carries and finished fifth in NCAA yards rushing.
The UNC single-season record is held by All-American Don McCauley, the only Tar Heel with more yards (1,720 plus 19 touchdowns) in 1970.
Echols, a senior from Charlotte, is on the 2024 Butkus Watch List as the best linebacker in major college football. As a junior, Echols started all 13 games and had 102 tackles, 5.5 thrown for losses (TFL), 4 quarterback pressures, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 1 pass broken up (PBU). The award is named for former Chicago Bears’ great Dick Butkus.
This is Echols’ second straight season on the Butkus Watch List. He and fellow linebacker Kaimon Rucker will lead the defense and try to make up for the loss of All-ACC linebacker and NFL draft choice Cedrick Gray, a fourth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans. They will have the challenge of leading Carolina to a better finish than No. 90 in NCAA rushing defense, allowing 2,121 yards on 504 carries.
Nesbitt and Copenhaver are also repeaters on the John Mackey Award Watch List.
Nesbit, a senior from Charlotte who was named first-team All-ACC, appeared in 12 games last season and started two. He had 41 receptions for 585 yards and five touchdowns. Copenhaver, a graduate student from Roswell, Georgia, made 10 starts in 12 games and finished with 18 catches for 240 yards and four TDs. The award is named for former Baltimore Colts and San Diego Chargers all-pro tight end John Mackey.
Paysour, a junior from Kings Mountain, was named to the College Sports Communications 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Watch List. Prior to a season-ending injury last year, Paysour started five games at wide receiver, with 22 receptions for 282 yards and three touchdowns. In 2022, Paysour was a valuable sub for All-ACC receiver Josh Downs.
Featured image via Associated Press/Erik Verduzco
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
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