Are North Carolina Tar Heels a Top 25 Team in 2014?

Special Teams

Tar Heels special teams is set, but not in the sense that it will be great. Simply put, all three kickers are back, they’re serviceable, and you know what you’re going to get from them. Senior punter Tommy Hibbard is probably the best of the bunch, averaging 43 yards per punt last year and nailing 25 of his 65 punts inside the 20 yard line. He should be better this year and could be amazing, having already been named to the 2014 Ray Guy Award Watch List. He’ll definitely be the strongest part of the group.

Nov 9, 2013; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels kicker Thomas Moore (18) kicks a field goal as punter Tommy Hibbard (30) holds in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Senior place kicker Thomas Moore is very reliable, consistent, and accurate, but his leg strength isn’t great, going only 1 for 5 on kicks 40 yards and beyond. Still, he can be relied upon to do what he’s supposed to do after going 13 of 14 on kicks under 40 yards. Missing 2 extra points isn’t great, but overall he is a reliable kicker who shouldn’t do anything to turn off the fan base as he enters his final year of college football. Junior Nick Weiler is back to handle kickoff duties, and 19 of his 67 kickoffs went for touchbacks last year.