North Carolina Football: 3 upperclassmen who must step up in 2022
By Dante Pryor
North Carolina football has a lot of turnover heading into 2022. These three upperclassmen have to step up for UNC wants to win this fall.
The North Carolina football program is coming off of a disappointing 6-7 season. The offense was not the problem last season, scoring 35 points per game. The defense surrendering 32 points per game let the Tar Heels down. No two games were more of an indicator of this than their losses to Georgia Tech and Florida State.
All-ACC third-team quarterback Sam Howell is gone this season, as are guards Joshua Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan and running back Ty Chandler. The big question looming over the 2022 season for the Tar Heels is simple, “Can the defense play better with so much offensive turnover?”
The offense still has wide receiver Joshua Downs who led the ‘Heels in receiving by a lot. North Carolina had a 70 reception differential between its leading and second-leading receivers. Downs led the Tar Heels with 101 catches; Antoine Green, who was second, had 31 catches.
There is also replacing quarterback Sam Howell. In addition to starting virtually every snap, Howell was second on the team in rushing. He had massive responsibility at the line of scrimmage in offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s offense.
Junior Jacolby Criswell and highly-touted quarterback Drake Maye look to compete for QB1. One of them has to step up this fall. Three other players must step up for the Tar Heels to have a successful 2022.