North Carolina Football: Tar Heels ready for run at ACC title

Tar Heels have lots of talent to replace their lost production on offense

Having a quarterback like Howell will help, but it is a testament to how head coach Mack Brown has built and developed talent at UNC that it can be a contender in the ACC while losing so much on offense. It might take some time to gel, but this could be the ACC’s best offense in 2021.

Sam Howell has been one of the ACC’s best QB’s since he started as a true freshman in 2019. He has thrown for 68 touchdowns in his first two seasons as a starter for the Tar Heels. That is the most by any player in ACC history through their sophomore season. Howell will be without his top wideouts from last season in Brown and Newsome, but Howell is the kind of QB that elevates the talent around him and that won’t be an issue this season.

UNC had one of the best rushing attacks in the entire country (just ask Miami), but they are losing both Williams and Carter to the NFL. The favorite to replace them this season is Tennessee running back Ty Chandler. Chandler rushed for 2,046 yards and 13 touchdowns during his time in Knoxville and he should be the lead back for the Tar Heels. If Chandler can’t be that back, it is unclear where the Tar Heels would turn, which is a potential concern.

At wide receiver, Newsome and Brown are gone, but there is plenty of talent still left for Howell to throw too. Josh Downs caught a 75-yard touchdown in the Orange Bowl and he is going to be the next star for UNC. Guys like Khafre Brown, Beau Corrales, and Emery Simmons are solid as well. Tight end Garrett Walston is another reliable target as well.

The offensive line brings back all five starters, but the unit needs to be improved over where it was last season.