The Tar Heels will have to navigate 2023 without one of their top defenders. The football program announced on Saturday evening that defensive back DeAndre Boykins is out for the season with a lower-body injury. The announcement came less than an hour before kickoff of the season opener against South Carolina.
Boykins, a junior from Concord, started all 14 games for the Tar Heels in 2022. The versatile defender stuffed the stat sheet with 67 tackles, two sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, seven pass break-ups, an interception and a fumble recovery. His seven tackles in the Holiday Bowl against Oregon matched a career high.
UNC had listed Boykins as the top “star” defensive back on its depth chart this week. Converted running back D.J. Jones is listed as the No. 2 option, with true freshman Kaleb Cost as the No. 3.
The Tar Heels will kick off against South Carolina at 7:30 p.m. For more information on how to follow along with the game, click here.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati
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