University of North Carolina Athletics
Lee Pace's Extra Points
August 21, 2000 | Football
Aug. 21, 2000
Position-By-Position Analysis
QB -- Tar Heels finally have some good depth. Curry hungry to turn potential into great season. Black sharp kid, good speed and good arm. Huard improved. Leak, Durant good potential for future.
RB -- Heels haven't had go-to guy with speed since Leon Johnson days. Parker heir-apparent to vaunted TB tradition. Dyer at FB biggest graduation loss, Saunders, Robinson competing to replace him.
WR -- Perhaps deepest position on team. Bailey most experience, needs to return to sure-handed days of old. Allen's speed provides missing big-play threat. Jones, Aiken ready to emerge as premier players.
OL -- Most important unit on team if Heels to rebound from 3-8 debacle. Wagstaff lighter and more mobile. Metts under-sized, over-hearted at center. Lots of young players fighting for playing time. Stay tuned.
TE -- Probably no one in nation has one-two punch of Crumpler and Finger, both figure to be key parts of passing and running game. Hilton, Brown provide depth.
DE -- Peppers proven force but still emerging. Evans, McAllister splitting time at other side, starting nods through year will go to best game-time performer. Stewart provides outstanding depth behind Peppers.
DT -- Sims emerging as potential all-star. Former walk-on Perkins one of hardest workers on team, nicknamed "Full-Tilt," up from 215 pounds three years ago to 275. Seawright huge long-term potential.
LB -- Senior corp as good as they come with Spoon, returning from injury, Perry and Hodge. Monk solid backup, Harris next in line. Depth beyond there for 2001 and beyond a concern.
DB -- All eyes on "Rabbit" following 1999 on bench. Better speed than All-America Bly, we'll see about instincts. Hood, Bomar, Greenwood solid starters, Reid and Coleman improving safety backups.
P/PK -- Major question marks. Reed excellent leg strength and impressive on kick-offs in camp, inconsistent on place-kicks. Freshman Ferguson tapped for punting role, will need to grow quick under pressure.
