ESPN released a list Wednesday ranking the ACC’s top 25 football players as the season gets set to begin this Saturday.

A total of four Tar Heels found their names among the list, led by sophomore quarterback Sam Howell–who checked in at No. 4 behind only Clemson stars Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne, as well as Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson.

Howell is coming off a dynamic year as a true freshman, setting the FBS record for his age group with 38 touchdown passes in 2019. He also finished second in the ACC with 3,641 yards through the air.

Senior linebacker Chazz Surratt was next on the list for UNC at No. 6 after leading the team with 115 tackles in 2019–his first year as a defender since switching over from quarterback.

Junior wide receiver Dyami Brown earned the No. 19 spot on ESPN’s list having proven himself last year as Howell’s top deep threat. Brown tied the school record with 12 touchdown catches last season, while also finishing fifth in the ACC with 1,034 receiving yards.

Rounding out the Tar Heels included among these rankings is Howell’s other top target, senior wide receiver Dazz Newsome. Last season saw Newsome–who was ranked No. 22–also crack the 1,000 yard barrier, making he and Brown the first pair of Tar Heel teammates to ever accomplish the feat in the same year

With these four talented players carrying the Tar Heels into 2020, expectations surrounding the program are as high as they’ve been since head coach Mack Brown’s first stint with the team during the mid 1990’s.

For the full list of ESPN’s top 25 ACC players for 2020, click here.

 

Photo via Dakota Moyer

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