The UNC football team took a heavy blow Monday morning, as it learned three starters would miss the remainder of the season: linebacker Noah Taylor (lower-body injury), running back Caleb Hood and defensive end Des Evans (both upper-body injuries). All three were injured in UNC’s win against Pittsburgh and did not return. Taylor is a graduate transfer from Virginia in his last year of eligibility, so his collegiate career is over. Hood and Evans will be able to return next season.

“Very, very disappointed for Noah,” head coach Mack Brown said on Monday. “He has been wonderful for us… we thank him for all he’s done. He’s a tremendous leader. He’s one of the reasons our defense has improved so much.”

A bright spot on an at-times-shaky UNC defense this season, Taylor leads the Tar Heels in both sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss (six). His 28 total tackles are tied for seventh on the team. Despite his injury, Brown confirmed Taylor plans to travel with the team on its upcoming road trip to Virginia, Taylor’s former school. Brown also said Taylor would be named a captain for the game.

“We basically said, ‘We want you to be one of the captains, and we want you to go with us and travel,'” Brown said. “And we don’t take injured players. So he’s different. This is unique.”

“It’s hard to replace Noah,” said UNC defensive coach Gene Chizik. “Because it’s not just the skillset he brought. He brought phenomenal leadership, attitude… that’s gonna be really, really hard to replace.”

Hood and Evans were initially only ruled out for the coming week, but the program announced both would miss the remainder of the season on Monday afternoon. Hood leads UNC in yards per rush (minimum 20 attempts) at 5.8 and had carried the ball a combined 23 times in wins at Miami and Duke. He only had one carry and one reception against Pitt before leaving the game.

Evans, a former five-star recruit from Lee County High School, was tied for second on the team with three quarterback hits.

Taylor and Evans are the second and third UNC starters on the defense to be lost for the season with an injury. Defensive lineman Ray Vohasek was ruled out earlier this month.

The No. 17 Tar Heels will be back in action this Saturday at noon when they face Virginia.

 

Featured image via 247 Sports

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