It’s almost time for March Madness on the basketball court, which means Tar Heel fans surely have only one thing on their mind: when does football season start?
UNC head coach Mack Brown took the podium on Wednesday to address the media with an offseason update as spring practice is on the horizon, addressing the new additions to his staff as well as his plans for what’s to come in the near future.
Joining Brown in talking to reporters Wednesday were both new tight ends coach John Lilly and the new special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Jovan DeWitt.
Brown had high praise for both new hires, while wishing the best to the men they replaced–Scott Boone and Tim Brewster, the latter of which was considered one of the key pieces to this Tar Heel team both as a coach and one of the best recruiters in the country.
He also gave insight into how he approached his team in regards to the offseason moves.
Quarterback Sam Howell will be critical to UNC’s success in the upcoming 2020 college football season, as he enters his second year leading the Tar Heel offense. (Photo via Dakota Moyer)
“One of the things I told the players is when you start looking around at coaching changes, there’s a lot of coaching changes every year across the country,” Brown said. “And that they should never worry about their coach leaving. Because if they really like their coach, me and the University of North Carolina hired that coach. So we’re gonna go find you another one. That’s just as good. That you like just as much.”
Lilly brings NFL experience to Chapel Hill having most recently been with the Cleveland Browns, while also having the knowledge and ability to coach at collegiate powerhouses evidenced by his time at both Florida State and Georgia. His acumen on the recruiting trail was mentioned as something the Tar Heels will benefit from greatly, especially given Brewster’s abrupt departure for the University of Florida.
DeWitt, meanwhile, brings an inspirational story along with him in addition to his skills as a football coach. While battling throat cancer during the early portion of 2019, he lost 100 pounds before returning cancer-free in August to the Nebraska sidelines–where he served in the same two roles he’ll have with the Tar Heels.
“I feel as good as I’ve felt before I was initially diagnosed,” DeWitt told reporters on Wednesday. “So, that part is really, really good. My energy levels are back to where they need to be I think. I was a little bit depleted probably this time last year if I was to be 100 percent honest with you.”
On the field, Brown expects DeWitt to have a big role not only with the special teams–an area where Brown said he’ll make any player on the roster available to DeWitt–but also in improving the Tar Heel pass rush.
Another important focus for the Tar Heels throughout spring practice will be implementing the 13 freshmen that enrolled early, a group that includes ESPN’s No. 2 ranked recruit in the country, defensive end Desmond Evans, and four-star wide receiver Josh Downs.
Although UNC is stocked with talent at those positions, developing depth is crucial to Brown’s plan of elevating the Tar Heels to the top of the ACC.
“The number one goal this spring is to try to get a two-deep where there’s not much drop off when you take one group out and put another group in,” Brown said. “That is key for us. You’ll have fresher teams. You’ll have better team morale. You’ll be in a position where you’re less likely to get guys hurt.”
With superstar quarterback Sam Howell back for his second year as the starter and nearly all of last season’s impact players back for another year, expectations are sky-high for UNC in 2020. The Tar Heels have been ranked in many “way-too-early” top 25 polls, and are projected to be a favorite to come out on top in the ACC Coastal Division.
Only time will tell if the team is able to meet those lofty expectations–that is why they play the games, after all–but it’s safe to say that Brown appears to have things clicking on all cylinders entering year two of his second tenure in Chapel Hill.
