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North Carolina football: 3 second-year players who’ll become stars in 2023

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 10, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton (28) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Georgia State Panthers in the second half at Center Parc Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton (28) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Georgia State Panthers in the second half at Center Parc Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mack Brown and North Carolina football had a nice bounce-back season in 2022, going 9-5 and even sitting in the AP Top 25 for a good chunk of the season.

No, the season didn’t end the way any Tar Heel fan wanted as they started the season 9-1 and in contention for an ACC title and even a playoff berth and then finished with four straight losses. Brown will have to rely on some rising stars to make sure that doesn’t happen again in 2023.

The Tar Heels landed the No. 11 recruiting class in the country last year and a handful of those guys will help North Carolina get back to the top of the ACC again.

Here are three second-year players who’ll become stars in 2023.

Spencer Rolland has yet to make a decision about his future with the program. Will he head to the NFL draft or come back for one final season after transferring in last offseason? Mack Brown would welcome either option.

Why would he be fine with losing a starting offensive tackle?

Because he has Zach Rice waiting in the wings.

The five-star offensive tackle was ranked the No. 1 at his position in the 2022 class and was 13th overall. This was just a massive win for Brown and North Carolina as the Virginia native is set to have a big impact on the program for the next couple of years, at least.

Will he win the starting job before the 2023 season? If Rolland is gone, I’d be shocked if he didn’t. Either way, he should see the field a lot more.

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