UNC football is entering the 2016 football season with a few questions and high expectations.

The reigning Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division champions have to replace a few key players from last year’s 11-win team. But the Tar Heels appear ready to do so in the form of players like junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky taking the place of the now-departed Marquise Williams.

But several of the returning players have positioned themselves for individual accolades as the season is quickly approaching.

Junior running back Elijah Hood was named to the Maxwell Award watch list earlier this week. That award is given annually to the nation’s best player.

And now Carolina’s senior center Lucas Crowley has been named to the Rimington Trophy watch list, which is given to the nation’s best center.

Crowley was named third-team All-ACC last season and was part of an offensive line that was named a Joe Moore Award semifinalist, which recognizes the best offensive line play in the country.

The work of that offensive line paved the way for the aforementioned Hood to rush for more than 1,400 yards, amid a record-setting offensive showing in 2015.

The Rimington Trophy winner will be recognized on January 14, 2017.

UNC opens the 2016 football season on September 3 against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Georgia Dome.

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