University of North Carolina Athletics
Spring Football Notebook
March 9, 2016 | Football
SATURDAY, APRIL 9
Scrimmage Report
Carolina's football scrimmage Saturday morning was punctuated with two big plays on defense in the last 10 minutes—four straight goal-line stops by the first-team unit followed soon after by Ayden Bonilla snagging a Mitch Trubisky pass and taking it to the end zone.
“There's no doubt the defense got the best of them today,” Tar Heel Coach Larry Fedora said. “The defense did a good job and created some turnovers. In both two-minute situations, they created turnovers to end the game.”
“Physicality, we've been preaching it all spring and slowly we're getting there,” defensive coordinator Gene Chizik added.
Last Saturday's scrimmage was held in the rain and saw the offense have a productive day. Through 50 plays with the first team, the offense had to punt only once, it had 10 explosive plays and converted 75 percent on third down.
This week was a contrast in conditions and outcomes. Saturday's session emphasized special situations—red-zone, goal-line, coming-out (ball on the two yard-line), two-minute, four-minute—and took place on a sunny but windy and chilly day. Throwers, receivers, snappers, kickers and returners all had to adjust throughout to accommodate the swirling wind.
“It was a good day to get some work in difficult conditions,” Fedora said. “The elements are a part of it. You have to play through them. The wind is especially big in the kicking game. I thought the field goal kickers did a nice job in the wind—both with it and against it.”
The offense was productive at times, with Trubisky making some nice throws and Austin Prohel making a diving catch amid tight coverage in the end zone. With Elijah Hood and Ty'son Williams limited because of injury this spring, T.J. Logan has been the No. 1 tailback, with Khris Francis and freshman Jordan Brown playing extensively with the first team and various personnel groups.
Six days to the Spring Game! https://t.co/W09iAfNUOA pic.twitter.com/2CcrmLm3IN
— Carolina Football (@TarHeelFootball) April 10, 2016
Offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic says he does not have a clear-cut winner in the competition for the right guard slot vacated by Landon Turner, but so far John Ferranto, a former starter at left tackle, has seen significant time with the first team there.
“We took a step backward today, but the great thing is, we have next week to get it all back,” said Kapilovic, who has added the offensive coordinator title this year. “I could have called a pass down on the goal-line and gotten us in the end zone, but it's about finding out who up front can block and which back can get in the end zone.”
Two freshmen who enrolled in January have been impressive on defense—safety Myles Dorn and linebacker Jonathan Smith. Both have played with first team as Donnie Miles has been limited and Andre Smith has been out completely.
“It was a good day—we got both the ones and the twos about 55 snaps each and no one got hurt,” Fedora said. “Every rep we get without an injury is good news. We're not going to play with 11 guys on either side of the ball, so every rep we can get for the young guys is good. I like what I've seen from Myles Dorn and Jonathan Smith. We're going to need both of them and they've picked the game up very quickly.”
The Tar Heels will practice next Tuesday and Thursday, have a light workout on Friday and then stage the Spring Game at 3 p.m. in Kenan Stadium.
FRIDAY, APRIL 8
• The Tar Heels completed their 10th practice of the spring season on Thursday with a crisp two-hour workout at Navy field. On hand were professors from campus for the annual "Bring a Professor to Practice" day. More than 25 professor were in attendance.
"We've done this every spring since I've been here," said head coach Larry Fedora. "I believe it gives the professors a chance to see exactly what these guys are doing outside the classroom with how hard they work and the time they put in. The professors and kids will get a chance to talk at dinner tonight and they enjoy that."
• Carolina must replace two outstanding senior linebackers in Shakeel Rashad and Jeff Schoettmer. Not only were they two of the team's top tacklers, but both served as defensive captains in 2015.
"We've got a bunch of guys that are competing (at linebacker)," said Fedora. "I don't know that wer'e going to have the leadership from that group that we had last year because of the guys we had there last year, but we've got some really athletics guys that can run. It's been really interesting to watch them compete on a daily basis for those spots."
Among those in competition for a starting nod are junior Cayson Collins, sophomore Andre Smith, sophomore Ayden Bonilla, true freshman Jonathan Smith, junior Cole Holcomb, junior college transfer J.B. Copeland and senior Dan Mastromatteo. Andre Smith has missed the spring with an injury, but will be at full strength for fall camp.
• Senior place-kicker Nick Weiler is one of three UNC students scheduled to meet today with the General Alumni Association Athletic Advisory Committee. He will be joined by Nick Williams from the men's soccer team and Emily Godwin of the women's track and field program.
GAA Athletic Advisory Committee Members
Doug Paschal '80 (played football at UNC, currently General Manager of Viacom Sports Marketing, living in Charlotte)
Vice-chair, Michael Bucy '01 – (played soccer at UNC, currently Engagement Manager with McKinsey and Co., living in Greensboro)
William H. Fuller, Jr. '86 – (played football at UNC, currently living in Chesapeake, VA)
Lori Ann Harris, '84 – (currently President of LA Harris & Associates, living in Greensboro)
John A. Kirkland, Jr., '81, '85 (MD) – (currently a Urologist living in Charlotte)
J. Rich Leonard, '71, 73 (Med), - (currently Dean of Campbell Law School living in Raleigh)
Charlie McNairy '97 – (played basketball at UNC, currently CEO of International Farming Corporation living in Kinston)
Travis Tygart '93 (Senior Managing Director, US Anti-Doping Agency living in Colorado Springs)
Wendy Bounds, '93 – (currently a Video Team leader with Consumer Reports living in Garrison, NY)
GAA Immediate Past-Chair, Vaughn Bryson, '60 (former UNC baseball player, and retired president of Eli Lilly) along with GAA Counsel, Wade Smith '60, '63 JD (former UNC football player and attorney in Raleigh) will sometimes attend the committee meeting as well.
FRIDAY, MARCH 11
Tar Heels Wrap Up First Week of Spring Ball
By Lee Pace
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Carolina finished its third spring practice session Thursday afternoon before a group of nearly 200 high school and college coaches from around the state and region. The team has next week off for spring break and returns to the practice field on Tuesday, March 22.
Among the high school coaches in attendance for the annual Carolina Coaches Clinic were former Tar Heels Jupiter Wilson and Issac Mooring. Wilson, an offensive lineman and letterman from 2000-03, is the head coach at Hickory High School in Chesapeake, Va., and Mooring, a defensive lineman from 2000-03, is the defensive line coach at Gardner-Webb College in Boiling Springs.
With returning linebacker Andre Smith out this spring with an injury and rising senior Dan Mastromatteo in a red jersey on Thursday, that left freshman Jonathan Smith running as the first-time “Mike” linebacker. Smith was playing high school ball at Scotland County last fall and now is enrolled as a freshman at Carolina.
“I knew Jonathan was a hard worker coming in, and that's translated since he got here in January,” says linebacker coach John Papuchis. “He's working hard in the weight room and is really smart, football-wise. He's made a smooth transition. It's a big jump, but he has right makeup.”
Among the many players who have benefitted from off-season conditioning work is senior receiver Bug Howard, who has gained eight pounds to 217 and lost two percent of body fat. Howard, who came to Carolina at 182 pounds, will be counted on for more leadership as Quinshad Davis has graduated. Howard made one incredible catch Thursday, pirouetting on a shade route into the sideline to catch a ball one-handed looking into the sun. For the first time, he's reached the “compelled” category in Coach Larry Fedora's six-level system of ranking a player's commitment to all of the program's values.
“Bug has made a heck of an improvement physically,” receivers coach Gunter Brewer says. “He's showing great leadership. It's time for him to step up, go to that next level, take over some of the things Quinshad was doing.”
Brewer likes the tempo the Tar Heel offense has been working on through three spring practices, and line coach and offensive coordinator Chris Kapilovic says the energy and focus has been good.
“The effort, the energy and the 'want to' are really good,” Kapilovic says. “The kids want to grow off what we did, there is no sense of, 'We've arrived. Now we need to establish some depth. We talk a lot about attention to detail. As good as we were last year at times, we could have been better. That's what we're harping on. All the little things, line up right, get the snap count, make adjustments pre-snap, do all those things exactly right.”
Kapilovic admits that after one day in pads, “You can tell we don't have Landon (Turner). We're going to miss him. Our challenge now is to find the guy who's going to take his spot.”
Brad Henson is one potential replacement for Turner, who'll go high in the upcoming NFL draft. Another is veteran John Ferranto. And still another is moving center Lucas Crowley to guard and putting freshman Tommy Hatton at center.
“We've got plenty of time this spring and over the summer and find that guy,” Kapilovic says. “One guy might give us good pass protection but isn't going to move guys out in the running game. Another's a good run guy but we suffer in pass-pro. We've got to find someone who can do it all and do it consistently well.”
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
• The first week of spring practice is in the books. Check out our photo gallery from today.
• Today is the last day of spring ball before the players take a week off for the University's official Spring Break. The Tar Heels will return to action on March 22.
• Lovie Smith was hired earlier this week at Illinois. Carolina will face seven teams this year with new head coaches, including Kirby Smart at Georgia, Smith at Illinois, Justin Fuente at Virginia Tech, Mark Richt at Miami, Bronco Mendenhall at Virginia, Mark Houston at JMU and Brent Thompson at The Citadel.
• With the start of free agency and the wild numbers tossed about in contract talks, it's worth stating that most players never play to the end of those contracts and, as most fans already know, NFL contracts are not guaranteed. With that said, it's also worth noting that former UNC defensive end Julius Peppers ranks fifth among active players in career earnings. He is the only non-quarterback in the top seven.
• Each week during spring ball, Carolina will feature player graphics on its Twitter and Instagram accounts. Featured today is cornerback Des Lawrence, who tied for the team lead with 14 pass breakups.
CB Des Lawrence tied for team lead with 14 breakups and ranked fourth in ACC with 1.14 passes defended per game #GoHeels @dlaww2
TUESDAY, MARCH 8
• North Carolina held its second spring practice on Tuesday at the Navy practice fields. Like all schools, the Tar Heels are allowed 15 practice dates during the spring. With two already in the books, Carolina's remaining practices are March 10, 22, 24, 29, 31 and April 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14 and 15.
• The 2016 Spring Football Game is Saturday, April 16 at 3 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission is free. Stay tuned to GoHeels.com for more information on activities surrounding the Spring Game.
• Fedora spoke to the media for the first time this spring. Once again, he reiterated that Mitch Trubisky has not automatically been anointed the starting quarterback. As Fedora has made quite clear, Trubisky will have to earn that role during spring and fall practice sessions. Check out this photo gallery from day two.
Fedora & Trubisky talk about @TarHeelFootball spring practices, team leaders & earning starting jobs. Post Practice: https://t.co/DuNNXh0M2J
— GoHeelsTV (@GoHeelsTV) March 9, 2016
• WR Mack Hollins, who has been a standout in offseason workouts, will miss the first half of the season-opener against Georgia due to his targeting penalty in the second half of the Baylor game. Hollins was ejected from the Baylor game and, by rule, must sit out the first half of the next game even if the next game is not until the following year. Asked after practice how big the Georgia game would be to this team, Hollins took his penalty in stride, "Well, I'll come out fresh in the second half. I'll get to watch for a little bit. I'll read the defense from the TV, which is a better angle than anyone else."
• QB Marquise Williams was at practice on Tuesday, sporting some nifty red Nikes, shoes he had likely been unable to wear around the football practice field in the past five years. Since graduating in December, Williams has been training in Orlando. He will stay in Chapel Hill until Pro Day before heading to California for more workouts.
• QB Bryn Renner is back with the Tar Heels, serving as a volunteer assistant this spring while he awaits another possibility with the NFL. Last season, Renner made the practice squad for the Baltimore Ravens out of training camp, but finished the season with Tennessee. With free agency starting Wednesday, he'll be seeking another NFL opportunity. Until that time comes, Renner wants to learn as much as he can about the coaching profession.
• Fedora confirmed that DE Junior Gnonkonde will graduate in May and will not return next fall. Gnonkonde has one year of eligibility remaining should he choose to continue his playing career.
• Carolina will take a one-week hiatus for UNC's Spring Break next week and then return to action on March 22.• March 22 is also UNC's Pro Timing Day. GoHeels.com will have coverage throughout the day as player's are weighed, measured and timed in a variety of agility drills. The following players are scheduled to participate for the NFL scouts: WR Quinshad Davis, TB Romar Morris, LB Jeff Schoettmer, LB Shakeel Rashad, S Malik Simmons, TE Kendrick Singleton, S Sam Smiley, DT Justin Thomason, OG Landon Turner, WR Damien Washington and QB Marquise Williams.
• Former UNC letterwinner and current country music singer Chase Rice will play a concert at 8:30 p.m. at Carmichael Arena following UNC's spring game on April 16. Tickets for the show will go on sale March 22.
• Carolina season football tickets are on sale at RaiseUpCarolina.com, a nifty new gameday and ticketing micro-site for UNC fans.
• Quote of the day: "Winning the ACC is a huge goal for us (this year). Coastal (division) is something we won last year, so you can't set the same goals each year and expect to get better. If all we want to do is win the Coastal, then you should have played last year. Our goal is to do better than we did the year before." - Hollins
Players Mentioned
