UNC wide receiver Kobe Paysour will be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury and punter Ben Kiernan is out for the season with a lower-body injury, the program announced on Saturday.

A sophomore from Kings Mountain, N.C., Paysour was having a productive season as Carolina’s starter in the slot. His 100 receiving yards in last weekend’s win against Syracuse were a career-high, with 77 of them coming on a highlight-reel catch in which he tipped the ball to himself and ran for a touchdown. Paysour’s three touchdown catches this season are the most on the team. His 22 receptions rank second and his 282 receiving yards rank third.

Paysour had been listed as a starter on UNC’s most recent depth chart. His absence will open the door for Georgia Tech transfer Nate McCollum to step fully into the starting role (he and Paysour shared starting duties in the slot when both were available). Paysour is the second Carolina starter to be lost for the season, after defensive back DeAndre Boykins suffered a lower-body injury in the preseason and was ruled out.

Kiernan made headlines by running a blocked punt for a first down in the game against Syracuse last weekend, but not before taking a massive hit on the sideline in the process. He’s coming off his best season as a Tar Heel in 2022, when he was named third team All-ACC. Because he is a fifth-year senior, Kiernan’s college career is over.

Carolina will take on Miami at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. For information on how to watch or listen, click here.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Erik Verduzco

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