The Tar Heels officially opened the fall season Friday morning in Chapel Hill with their first organized practice.
Of course, it’s “fall” in name only: the late July sun baked the outdoor turf fields to a crisp. Every completed drill was followed by head coach Mack Brown’s voice booming over the public address system, imploring his players to hydrate properly. With Carolina playing its first game a week earlier than usual, Brown viewed the scorching heat as a perfect simulation for the dog days of August and September.
“It was 86 degrees out there on our turf,” Brown said. “I checked it in Atlanta, where we’ll be playing on turf at Georgia State… and it was 86 degrees. We’ll check the heat every day at these times, and we’ll check the heat for the 8:00 game [against Florida A&M in Chapel Hill] as well.”
The toasty conditions may have been due to the burning question on every Tar Heel fan’s mind: who will start at quarterback on opening night? Brown and the rest of the program have kept the secret close to the chest ever since Sam Howell left for the NFL this past spring. Junior Jacolby Criswell and sophomore Drake Maye split first- and second-team reps during the team’s Friday practice.
“[Offensive coordinator] Phil [Longo] and I have talked about it,” Brown said. “We will press both of those quarterbacks really hard every day… there’s no holding back. We’re not worried about their confidence; we’re worried about them separating, so we’re bringing it all. And we’re telling them, ‘You’re gonna tell us who should start. We’re not gonna tell you.'”
As for when that announcement will come, Brown estimated a decision would likely come a week or two before the Florida A&M game on August 27, if only to save Maye and Criswell from some restless nights.
As for the other 90-plus players on the roster, Friday morning marked the first practice featuring the full recruiting class of 2022, a a group which ranked among the nation’s best. Five-star recruits Travis Shaw and Zach Rice have been with the team since the new year, but prospects such as running back Omarion Hampton and wide receiver Andre Greene, Jr. were making their Tar Heel debuts. Brown was particularly complimentary of his new pass-catcher, who he said made a few “acrobatic” grabs during the session.
“People say, ‘Well, is it fair to take a freshman and… put him right in?'” he said. “If he’s 6-3 and can fly and can catch, yes.”
All in all, Brown was pleased with his team’s showing during the practice, following up on points he made during the ACC Kickoff last week. Voters may not be as bullish on the Tar Heels as they were 365 days ago (Carolina is picked third in the Coastal Division after being tabbed to win it last season), but Brown maintains that it’s the little things which give him reason to hope this year.
“The first practice better be good, or you’re gonna have a long year,” he said. “We say that every year, but this one was good… I saw effort, I didn’t see people pulling themselves out. There’s absolutely no doubt that our coaches are more cohesive right now than they’ve been as a staff… I just feel like the whole thing right now is smoother.”
Brown’s new staff includes fresh faces Jack Bicknell, Jr. (offensive line), Gene Chizik (assistant head coach for defense) and Charlton Warren (co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs). Brown lauded each of the new triumvirate for meshing immediately upon arrival in Chapel Hill.
Chizik in particular will be under the microscope, taking the reins of a UNC defense which gave up 30 or more points nine times in 13 games last season. The unit doesn’t lack for talent, with names like Shaw, former five-star cornerback Tony Grimes and second team All-ACC defensive lineman Myles Murphy likely to see significant playing time.
The team opens with three games against non-Power 5 schools, which is a stark departure from Carolina’s opening road trip to Blacksburg in 2021. But if the Tar Heels learned any lessons from last season’s nightmarish campaign, it’s to not take any opponents lightly.
The Tar Heels will hold two open practices in Kenan Stadium before the season begins, yet another departure from 2021. If anything, it seems Brown wants to coax back fans who may have been put off by last year’s disappointment. Beginning 2022 with a win against Florida A&M on August 27 would be a good place to start.
Featured image via Inside Carolina/Jim Hawkins
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