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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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Dec 3, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA;North Carolina Tar Heels defensive lineman Travis Shaw (4) is the last on the field at the end of the game for the ACC Championship at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA;North Carolina Tar Heels defensive lineman Travis Shaw (4) is the last on the field at the end of the game for the ACC Championship at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

The other five-star recruit in North Carolina’s 2022 class was Travis Shaw. And like Zach Rice, Shaw should have a major impact in a bigger role this year.

Shaw did see the field a decent amount as a freshman, recording 18 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and a couple of pass breakups at the line. He showed serious promise for this North Carolina defense and it feels like he’s just getting started.

Chris Singletary, a national recruiting expert for 247Sports, compared him to Chicago Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks and said that he has first-round potential. And I tend to agree with that sentiment.

Shaw is a mountain of a defensive lineman, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing in at anywhere between 330 and 360 pounds. Yet he’s somehow Uber-athletic.

If he can accumulate 18 tackles and a half tackle for loss in limited time as a freshman, just imagine what he could do with starting snaps.

Shaw is a budding superstar and 2023 could be his year.

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