University of North Carolina Athletics
GoHeels Exclusive: Dorn Growing In Starting Role
October 7, 2017 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Entering his first season as North Carolina's starting free safety, the expectations surrounding Myles Dorn progressively built throughout fall camp.
Players and coaches lauded Dorn's ability. And on Aug. 28, five days before UNC's season opener against California, Larry Fedora added to the hype when he said Dorn "has got a chance to be a star" during his weekly press conference.
But Dorn's potential only showed in flashes during the Tar Heels' first five games.
Dorn finished with a career-high 11 tackles against Duke and forced a fumble against Old Dominion. However, he delivered just four total tackles against California and Georgia Tech, while also falling victim to the secondary's communication issues early in the season.
Then came Saturday's home game against No. 21 Notre Dame. And although the Tar Heels lost 33-10, Dorn led a defense that played well in stretches, registering nine tackles, two interceptions, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
"At first, he was trying to get his feet wet," said M.J. Stewart of Dorn, who appeared in all 13 games last season. "But now he's become a hell of a player. He's communicating a lot more, seeing a lot more things and expanding his vision."
Dorn, the son of former UNC standout Torin Dorn, showed that vision on his first interception Saturday.
With the Tar Heels trailing 14-0 and their offense having tallied just 99 yards on its first 28 plays, Notre Dame began a drive on its own 1-yard line midway through the second quarter, looking for its third score of the period. But Dorn handed UNC momentum.
On just the second play of the drive, Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book threw a deep ball down the visitor's sideline. Dorn, playing center field, read Book's eyes the whole way, and he snagged the ball at the Notre Dame 47-yard line.
The interception marked the first of Dorn's 19-game career.
"It's great just to get it started and rolling," he said. "I've been waiting on it for five games now. It feels good to have it come today."
The pick provided the boost the Tar Heels' offense needed, at least for a moment. Just six plays later, Chazz Surratt connected with Anthony Ratliff-Williams for a 25-yard touchdown, cutting the Fighting Irish's lead to 14-7.
"That's a Charlotte boy, as well as I am," Ratliff-Williams said. "That was a big play for him and a big play for everybody."
Notre Dame ultimately pushed its lead to 19-7 on a safety just before halftime and then a 29-yard field goal on its first second-half drive. And after reaching UNC's 18-yard line on their ensuing offensive possession, the Fighting Irish – who entered Saturday 22-for-22 on red-zone opportunities – appeared poised to pad their lead.
But Dorn ended that threat by picking off his second pass of the game.
"I was (in) one-high safety and (Book) just overthrew the ball," Dorn said. "I was standing right there."
Dorn's multi-interception game marked the first by a Tar Heel since Malik Simmons recorded two picks against Virginia on Oct. 24, 2015. Only 11 UNC players, including Dorn, have intercepted two or more passes in a game this century.
But on a day when the defense was on the field too much and ultimately surrendered 487 total yards, Dorn couldn't enjoy the spoils of his best career game, overshadowed by the Tar Heels' fifth loss.
"Personal success is good," Dorn said. "But at the point we're at, we're 1-5 now. We've just got to stick together as a team. It's not more about me. It's about this unit and trying to figure out what we can do as a team to get better."
Entering his first season as North Carolina's starting free safety, the expectations surrounding Myles Dorn progressively built throughout fall camp.
Players and coaches lauded Dorn's ability. And on Aug. 28, five days before UNC's season opener against California, Larry Fedora added to the hype when he said Dorn "has got a chance to be a star" during his weekly press conference.
But Dorn's potential only showed in flashes during the Tar Heels' first five games.
Dorn finished with a career-high 11 tackles against Duke and forced a fumble against Old Dominion. However, he delivered just four total tackles against California and Georgia Tech, while also falling victim to the secondary's communication issues early in the season.
Then came Saturday's home game against No. 21 Notre Dame. And although the Tar Heels lost 33-10, Dorn led a defense that played well in stretches, registering nine tackles, two interceptions, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
"At first, he was trying to get his feet wet," said M.J. Stewart of Dorn, who appeared in all 13 games last season. "But now he's become a hell of a player. He's communicating a lot more, seeing a lot more things and expanding his vision."
Dorn, the son of former UNC standout Torin Dorn, showed that vision on his first interception Saturday.
With the Tar Heels trailing 14-0 and their offense having tallied just 99 yards on its first 28 plays, Notre Dame began a drive on its own 1-yard line midway through the second quarter, looking for its third score of the period. But Dorn handed UNC momentum.
On just the second play of the drive, Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book threw a deep ball down the visitor's sideline. Dorn, playing center field, read Book's eyes the whole way, and he snagged the ball at the Notre Dame 47-yard line.
The interception marked the first of Dorn's 19-game career.
"It's great just to get it started and rolling," he said. "I've been waiting on it for five games now. It feels good to have it come today."
The pick provided the boost the Tar Heels' offense needed, at least for a moment. Just six plays later, Chazz Surratt connected with Anthony Ratliff-Williams for a 25-yard touchdown, cutting the Fighting Irish's lead to 14-7.
"That's a Charlotte boy, as well as I am," Ratliff-Williams said. "That was a big play for him and a big play for everybody."
Notre Dame ultimately pushed its lead to 19-7 on a safety just before halftime and then a 29-yard field goal on its first second-half drive. And after reaching UNC's 18-yard line on their ensuing offensive possession, the Fighting Irish – who entered Saturday 22-for-22 on red-zone opportunities – appeared poised to pad their lead.
But Dorn ended that threat by picking off his second pass of the game.
"I was (in) one-high safety and (Book) just overthrew the ball," Dorn said. "I was standing right there."
Dorn's multi-interception game marked the first by a Tar Heel since Malik Simmons recorded two picks against Virginia on Oct. 24, 2015. Only 11 UNC players, including Dorn, have intercepted two or more passes in a game this century.
But on a day when the defense was on the field too much and ultimately surrendered 487 total yards, Dorn couldn't enjoy the spoils of his best career game, overshadowed by the Tar Heels' fifth loss.
"Personal success is good," Dorn said. "But at the point we're at, we're 1-5 now. We've just got to stick together as a team. It's not more about me. It's about this unit and trying to figure out what we can do as a team to get better."
Players Mentioned
Safety
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Cornerback
/ Football
Quarterback
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