2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

The 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team will represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels will be led by head coach Mack Brown, who is in the fifth season of his second stint at North Carolina and 15th overall season at the university. The team will play their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorChip Lindsey (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorGene Chizik (4th season)
Co-defensive coordinatorCharlton Warren (4rd season)
Co-defensive coordinatorTommy Thigpen (11th season)
Home stadiumKenan Memorial Stadium
(capacity: 50,500)
2023 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Boston College  0 –0   0 –0  
Clemson  0 –0   0 –0  
Duke  0 –0   0 –0  
Florida State  0 –0   0 –0  
Georgia Tech  0 –0   0 –0  
Louisville  0 –0   0 –0  
Miami (FL)  0 –0   0 –0  
NC State  0 –0   0 –0  
North Carolina  0 –0   0 –0  
Pittsburgh  0 –0   0 –0  
Syracuse  0 –0   0 –0  
Virginia  0 –0   0 –0  
Virginia Tech  0 –0   0 –0  
Wake Forest  0 –0   0 –0  
Championship: December 2023
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
As of May 13, 2023
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The 2022 Tar Heels football team started the season unranked, but behind the stellar play of quarterback Drake Maye, climbed to as high as No. 13 in the CFP ranking after winning 9 of their first 10 games. The Tar Heels clinched the ACC Coastal Division title and an appearance in the ACC Championship Game with 2 games to play in the regular season. However, after clinching the division, the Heels would lose their remaining four games, including the ACC Championship game against Clemson and the Holiday Bowl against Oregon to finish the season 9–5.

Offseason

Coaching changes

After the ACC Championship Game, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Phil Longo accepted the same position at Wisconsin. Offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. followed Longo to Madison after one year in Chapel Hill.[1]

On December 14, 2022, the Tar Heels hired Randy Clements as the new offensive line coach,[2] and would also hire Chip Lindsey to fill the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach vacancy.[3] Along with the new hires, AHC/wr coach lonnie galloway added the title of pass game coordinator, and TE coach John Lilly added the title of Run Game Coordinator.

Cornerbacks coach and Tar Heel football legend Dré Bly would leave the program in January,[4] and would be replaced in the position by Indiana safeties coach Jason Jones.[5]

On February 23, 2023, TE coach and run game coordinator John Lilly left for new head coach Frank Reich's staff on the Carolina Panthers.[6] He was replaced four days later by former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens.[7]Kitchens was introduced officially on March 1, in the team's pre-spring practice press conference.

Former Tar Heel letterman and longtime NFL assistant coach Clyde Christensen officially joined the staff as a volunteer offensive analyst as well, after several seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[8]

The defensive staff was fortified also, as former NFL assistant coach Ted Monachino was hired as a defensive analyst.[9]

NFL Draft
Main article: 2023 NFL Draft

The following Tar Heels were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Round Pick Player Position NFL Team
379Josh DownsWRIndianapolis Colts
5169Asim RichardsOLDallas Cowboys
7219Antoine GreenWRDetroit Lions
7227Raymond VohasekDLJacksonville Jaguars

Transfers

Per NCAA guidance, players can enter the transfer portal in one of two windows. The first, a 45-day period following the conclusion of the sport's regular season, opened for football in December 2022 and closed in January 2023. A second, shorter transfer period opened on April 15, following the conclusion of spring practice.

Source: [10]

NameNo.Pos.HeightWeightHometownYearNew school
Dontae Balfour14DB6'1"180Starke, FLRedshirt FreshmanCharlotte
Tymir Brown28DB6'0"180Jacksonville, NCRedshirt FreshmanECU
Chris Collins17DL6'4"245Richmond, VAGraduateMinnesota
Ja'Qurious Conley‡0DB6'1"215Jacksonville, NCJuniorTBD
Jacolby Criswell6QB6'1"225Morrilton, ARSophomoreArkansas
Raneiria "RaRa" Dillworth11LB6'1"200Winston-Salem, NCSophomoreECU
Storm Duck3DB6'0"200Boiling Springs, SCSeniorPenn State
Tony Grimes1DB6'0"195Virginia Beach, VAJuniorTexas A&M
Ladaeson Deandre Hollins‡15DB6'1"200Tampa, FLGraduateCharlotte
Bryson Jennings‡19DL6'4"245Richmond, VARedshirt FreshmanTBD
Kendall Karr82TE6'3"250Belmont, NCSophomoreCoastal Carolina
Cam'Ron Kelly9DB6'1"210Chesapeake, VASeniorVirginia
Jonathan Kim95PK6'0"210Fredericksburg, VASeniorMichigan State
Dontavius Nash21DB6'2"180Gastonia, NCRedshirt FreshmanECU
Justin Olson83WR6'2"200Huntersville, NCJuniorMTSU
Keeshawn Silver55DL6'5"315Rocky Mount, NCRedshirt FreshmanKentucky
Gabe Stephens‡34DL6'3"220Mount Holly, NCRedshirt SophomoreTBD
Jahlil Taylor52DL6'0"295Vienna, GASeniorODU

‡ Entered transfer portal following the conclusion of spring practices

Incoming Transfers

Source:[10]

NameNo.Pos.HeightWeightHometownYearPrevious school
Derrik Allen7DB6'2"211Marietta, GAGraduateGeorgia Tech
Armani Chatman9DB6'0"180Virginia Beach, VAGraduateVirginia Tech
Ryan Coe40K6'3"225McDonald, PAGraduateCincinnati
Amari Gainer3Jack6'3"237Tallahassee, FLGraduateFlorida State
Alijah Huzzie28DB5'11"190Franklin, GAJuniorETSU
Willie Lampkin53OL6'0"275Lakeland, FLSeniorCoastal Carolina
Antavious LaneDB5'9"180West Palm Beach, FLGraduateGeorgia State
Tom Maginness96P6'0"220Melbourne, AustraliaSophomoreProKick Australia
Nate McCollum6WR5'11"185Hampton, GASeniorGeorgia Tech
Devontez Walker9WR6'3"190Charlotte, NCJuniorKent State

Personnel

Coaching Staff
North Carolina Tar Heels coaches
Mack BrownHead coach15th
Chip LindseyOffensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach1st
Freddie KitchensRun game coordinator/Tight ends coach1st
Randy ClementsOffensive line coach1st
Lonnie GallowayAssistant head coach/Pass Game coordinator/Wide receivers5th
Larry PorterSpecial Teams coordinator/Running backs3rd
Gene ChizikAssistant head coach for defense4th
Charlton WarrenCo-defensive Coordinator/Defensive backs coach2nd
Tommy ThigpenCo-defensive coordinator/Inside Linebackers coach6th
Tim CrossDefensive line coach5th
Jason JonesCornerbacks coach1st
Brian HessHead strength and conditioning coach5th
Sparky WoodsSenior advisor to head coach5th
Darrell MoodySenior advisor to head coach5th
Clyde ChristensenVolunteer Offensive Analyst1st
Ted MonachinoSenior Defensive Analyst1st
Reference:[11]

Roster
2023 North Carolina Tar Heels Spring Football Roster

Quarterback

  • 10 Drake Maye – sophomore (6'4, 225)
  • 12 Tad Hudson – freshman (6'2, 220)
  • 14 Jefferson Boaz – junior (6'7, 235)
  • 15 Conner Harrell – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 200)
  • 16 Russell Tabor – sophomore (6'2, 215)

Running back

  • 4 Caleb Hood – junior (5'11, 225)
  • 21 Elijah Green – junior (5'11, 205)
  • 23 George Pettaway – sophomore (5'0, 195)
  • 24 British Brooks – graduate (5'11, 220)
  • 26 D.J. Jones – senior (5'10, 200)
  • 28 Omarion Hampton – sophomore (6'0, 220)

Wide receiver

  • 0 Tychaun "Doc" Chapman – Redshirt freshman (5'9, 175)
  • 1 Andre Greene Jr. – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 200)
  • 2 Gavin Blackwell – sophomore (5'11, 180)
  • 5 J.J. Jones – junior (6'2, 210)
  • 6 Nate McCollum – junior (5'8, 185)
  • 7 Christian Hamilton – freshman (5'11, 180)
  • 8 Kobe Paysour – sophomore (6'0, 185)
  • 9 Devontez "Tez" Walker – junior (6'2, 195)
  • 11 Paul Billups II – freshman (6'1, 195)
  • 13 Tylee Craft – senior (6'5, 200)
  • 19 Grady Sherrill – Redshirt freshman (5'8, 180)
  • 20 Brooks Miller – sophomore (5'11, 180)
  • 25 Kellan Hood – Redshirt freshman (5'10, 190)
  • 27 Michael Hall – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 180)
  • 29 Jeffrey Saturday – graduate (5'10, 185)
  • 38 Aiden Cloninger – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 190)
  • 84 Cyrus Rogers – sophomore (5'11, 185)
  • 85 Landon Stevens – junior (6'2, 200)
  • 86 Thomas Flynn – sophomore (6'3, 205)

Placekicker

  • 40 Ryan Coe – graduate (6'2, 220)
  • 90 Todd Pledger – sophomore (6'8, 210)
  • 95 Nicky Sodano – Redshirt freshman (5'9, 180)
  • 98 Noah Burnette – junior (5'10, 175)

Punter

  • 91 Ben Kiernan – graduate (6'0, 210)
  • 92 Cole Maynard ― Redshirt Freshman (6'2, 172)
  • 96 Tom Maginness – sophomore (6'0, 205)
  

Tight end

  • 18 Bryson Nesbit – junior (6'5, 235)
  • 81 John Copenhaver – junior (6'3, 240)
  • 88 Kamari Morales – graduate (6'2, 245)
  • 89 Jake Young – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 240)

Offensive line

  • 51 R.J. Grigsby – freshman (6'3, 310)
  • 52 Jonathan Adorno – senior (6'4, 315)
  • 53 Willie Lampkin – junior (5'11, 290)
  • 54 Chance Carroll – junior (6'2, 295)
  • 55 Zach Rice – Redshirt freshman (6'4, 315)
  • 57 Cayden Baker – junior (6'6, 305)
  • 60 Carter Kulka – sophomore (6'3, 270)
  • 61 Diego Pounds – sophomore (6'5, 330)
  • 63 Ed Montilus – graduate (6'3, 315)
  • 64 Malik McGowan – junior (6'3, 325)
  • 65 Corey Gaynor – graduate (6'3, 305)
  • 68 D.J. Geth – freshman (6'3, 295)
  • 70 Noland Brown – senior (5'11, 295)
  • 72 Nolan McConnell – freshman (6'6, 320)
  • 73 Eli Sutton – sophomore (6'6, 310)
  • 74 Justin Kanyuk – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 315)
  • 75 Spencer Rolland – graduate (6'6, 315)
  • 76 William Barnes – senior (6'4, 320)
  • 78 Trevyon Green – Redshirt freshman (6'7, 340)
  • 79 Bo Burkes – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 300)

Defensive line

  • 4 Travis Shaw – sophomore (6'5, 340)
  • 5 Jahvaree Ritzie – junior (6'5, 295)
  • 8 Myles Murphy – senior (6'4, 305)
  • 10 Desmond Evans – senior (6'6, 275)
  • 12 Beau Atkinson – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 270)
  • 25 Kaimon Rucker – junior (6'1, 260)
  • 41 Kedrick Bingley-Jones – junior (6'4, 300)
  • 56 Tomari Fox – senior (6'3, 300)
  • 88 Deems May – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 230)
  • 92 Kody Kovacevic Redshirt Freshman (6'3, 255)
  • 93 Jacolbe Cowan – junior (6'4, 270)
  • 94 Jarvis Hicks – Redshirt freshman (6'6, 295)
  • 96 Nic Harvey – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 315)
  • 98 Kevin Hester Jr. – senior (6'3, 315)
  

Jack

  • 3 Amari Gainer – graduate (6'3, 235)
  • 24 Malaki Hamrick – sophomore (6'2, 220)
  • 40 Tyler Thompson – freshman (6'5, 205)
  • 87 Colby Doreen – sophomore (6'4, 228)

Linebacker

  • 17 Amare Campbell – freshman (6'0, 230)
  • 23 Power Echols – junior (6'0, 225)
  • 30 Michael Short – freshman (6'3, 225)
  • 32 Sebastian Cheeks – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 220)
  • 33 Cedric Gray – senior (6'2, 230)
  • 36 Jalen Brooks – junior (5'10, 230)
  • 44 Randy "Deuce" Caldwell – sophomore (6'0, 230)
  • 45 Jake Harkleroad – senior (5'10, 215)
  • 47 CJ Murphy – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 220)
  • 48 Milad Aghaiepour – junior (5'10, 225)
  • 53 Gibson Macrae – sophomore (5'11, 220)

Defensive back

  • 2 Don Chapman – senior (6'1, 200)
  • 6 Lejond Cavazos – junior (6'0, 195)
  • 7 Derrik Allen – graduate (6'1, 210)
  • 9 Armani Chatman – graduate (6'0, 200)
  • 16 DeAndre Boykins – junior (5'11, 205)
  • 18 Christopher Holliday – junior (6'4, 220)
  • 20 Tayon Holloway – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 185)
  • 26 Naari Short – junior (5'8, 185)
  • 27 Giovanni Biggers – graduate (6'1, 200)
  • 29 Marcus Allen – sophomore (6'1, 200)
  • 31 Will Hardy – sophomore (6'2, 215)
  • 35 Jaden Selby – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 190)'
  • 37 Phillips Alvarez – Redshirt freshman (5'10, 190)
  • 40 Major Byrd – freshman (5'9, 200)

Long snappers

  • 43 Garrett Jordan – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 225)
  • 61 Drew Little – senior (5'11, 245)
  • 62 Spencer Triplett – junior (6'2, 235)
* North Carolina Tar Heels Football Roster as of 2/24/2023[12]

Schedule

The 2023 ACC conference football schedule was released on January 30, 2023.[13][14] The 2023 season will be the conference's first season under a new single-division format. The 3-5-5 model gives each team three set conference opponents to play every season, while playing the remaining ten teams twice (once at home and once on the road) in a four–year cycle. The Tar Heels' non-rotating opponents are all traditional rivalries: Duke, NC State, and Virginia.[15][16]

DateOpponentSiteResult
September 2vs. South Carolina*
September 9Appalachian State*
September 16Minnesota*
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
September 23at Pittsburgh
October 7Syracuse
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
October 14Miami (FL)
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
October 21Virginia
October 28at Georgia Tech
November 4Campbell*
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
November 11Duke
November 18at Clemson
November 25at NC State
  • *Non-conference game

[17]

Notes

^ Warren and Thigpen have the title of co-defensive coordinator, but serve under Chizik, whose official title is Assistant Head Coach for defense.

References
  1. Samuels, Doug (December 7, 2022). "Phil Longo to be Luke Fickell's offensive coordinator at Wisconsin". FootballScoop.com. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  2. "Carolina Football Names Randy Clements Offensive Line Coach". GoHeels.com. December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  3. "Chip Lindsey Hired As Offensive Coordinator". GoHeels.com. December 15, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  4. Hale, David M. (January 11, 2023). "Ex-UNC football star Dre Bly out as Tar Heels' CB coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  5. "Carolina Football Names Jason Jones Cornerbacks Coach". GoHeels.com. January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  6. Stone, Augusta (February 23, 2023). "Panthers add John Lilly to coaching staff". panthers.com. Carolina Panthers. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  7. Martin, Ross (February 27, 2023). "UNC to Hire Freddie Kitchens as New Tight End Coach". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. Smith, Adam (March 1, 2023). "NFL Coaching Veteran Clyde Christensen Joining UNC Staff as Analyst". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  9. Smith, Adam (March 7, 2023). "UNC Adding Ted Monachino from NFL Ranks to Improve Pass Rush". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  10. Martin, Ross (January 19, 2023). "UNC Transfer Portal Tracker: Who's Coming? Who's Going?". InsideCarolina.com. 247Sports. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  11. "Football Coaches". University of North Carolina Athletics.
  12. "2023 Spring Football Roster". goheels.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  13. "UNC football 2023 ACC schedule, opponents announced". The News & Observer. January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  14. Bergin, Mark (January 30, 2023). "Here are the 2023 football schedules for NC State, North Carolina and Duke". WRAL. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  15. "ACC Announces Football Schedule Model for 2023–26" (Press release). Atlantic Coast Conference. June 28, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  16. Murphy, Brian (June 28, 2022). "ACC eliminates football divisions, adopts new schedule model in 2023". WRAL. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  17. "2023 North Carolina Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com.
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