University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
GoHeels Exclusive: Heck Ready To Lead
August 2, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Undersized and under-recruited, in his own words, Charlie Heck didn't even have a 247Sports recruiting profile when he committed to North Carolina in the fall of 2014.
He also didn't have a true position.
Employed primarily as a tight end at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., Heck weighed 195 pounds as a junior. By the end of his senior season, he had gained roughly 40 pounds, thanks in part to the consumption of countless peanut butter sandwiches. But college coaches were still unsure if he'd be a tight end, defensive lineman or offensive lineman.
Heck seemed destined for the offensive line, considering his brother, Jon, was a tackle for the Tar Heels and his father, Andy, played tackle at Notre Dame and for 12 years in the NFL. Andy was also the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line coach at the time; a position he continues to hold today.
Still, Heck didn't know if that's where he'd end up, all the way up until he enrolled.
"When I first got to Carolina, the roster online said I was No. 83," Heck said recently, "and I was like, 'Alright, I'm playing tight end.' But I show up, (get) No. 67, go to meetings (and am told), 'Here are your knee braces.' So (I went) straight to O-line."
In the four years since then, Heck has grown into his 6-foot-8 frame and now weighs 315 pounds entering his redshirt senior season. He's also emerged as the anchor of UNC's offensive line and a potential NFL Draft pick.
Heck's transformation into one of college football's best tackles might surprise some. He's steadily progressed, though, as he has proceeded to follow in the footsteps of his brother and father.
"My dad had a successful career in the NFL," Heck said, "and I have ambitions to go play in the NFL. Jon was a great player for the Tar Heels, and now he's part of the strength staff. So I'm working with him every day and I get to hear his advice and bounce (stuff) off him about the experiences we've shared."
Jon, Carolina's starting right tackle from 2013-16, never experienced a coaching change during his college career. But Heck, the Tar Heels' starting right tackle the last two seasons, has appeared to adapt to Mack Brown's staff and the left tackle job vacated by William Sweet.
In new offensive coordinator Phil Longo's Air Raid offense, UNC still runs gap and zone schemes. The offensive line, however, is tasked with being faster to and off the ball than in previous years. Heck said all the linemen gradually adjusted to that in the spring. They also acclimated to the staff signaling in plays just once pre-snap as opposed to multiple times.
Heck also had to get used to learning from his new position coach, Stacy Searels. That's an opportunity he fully embraced.
"Charlie Heck is a pleasure to coach," said Searels at the end of spring ball. "A lot of times you can come into a new system, a new program, and you've got a senior who may balk at coaching because I may do something a little different from a previous coach or something like that. But Charlie has embraced what we're trying to teach and he's been a pleasure to coach.
"I think if he continues to grow, get stronger and play physical, he can play as long as he wants to play."
A season ago, Heck allowed 12 pressures (one sack, four quarterback hits and seven hurries) on 431 pass-blocking snaps at right tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. That resulted in an 84.5 pass-blocking grade, the highest among returning ACC offensive tackles (min. 300 snaps).
Carolina hopes Heck can experience the same sort of success protecting the quarterback's blind side. His leadership will be just as crucial, though. And he's well aware of that.
"As a fifth-year senior and returning starter, something that I've been pushing myself to do is become more of a vocal leader," said Heck, whose 22 career starts are tied with Aaron Crawford for the most on the team. "In general, I'm more of a quiet person. So that's been something I've been working on since the spring, just kind of pushing people along, getting more comfortable being able to hold somebody accountable and hold myself accountable, as well."
With Heck at left tackle and Jordan Tucker's emergence as the potential starter at right tackle, the Tar Heels appear to have stability at both positions. Nick Polino brings invaluable experience to the interior offensive line. But the other two starters likely won't be determined until closer to the season opener against South Carolina.
Even then, the offensive line could be one of UNC's strongest positions this season. Heck knows it will need to be if he and his fellow classmates are to finish their Carolina careers on a high note.
"When I got here as a freshman (in 2015), we went to the ACC Championship, and then we had a great year going to the Sun Bowl (in 2016)," Heck said. "Then we had those two poor years. So I've been with the winning and I've been with the losing. I want to get back on top and start kicking Carolina football back into the right direction again."
Undersized and under-recruited, in his own words, Charlie Heck didn't even have a 247Sports recruiting profile when he committed to North Carolina in the fall of 2014.
He also didn't have a true position.
Employed primarily as a tight end at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., Heck weighed 195 pounds as a junior. By the end of his senior season, he had gained roughly 40 pounds, thanks in part to the consumption of countless peanut butter sandwiches. But college coaches were still unsure if he'd be a tight end, defensive lineman or offensive lineman.
Heck seemed destined for the offensive line, considering his brother, Jon, was a tackle for the Tar Heels and his father, Andy, played tackle at Notre Dame and for 12 years in the NFL. Andy was also the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line coach at the time; a position he continues to hold today.
Still, Heck didn't know if that's where he'd end up, all the way up until he enrolled.
"When I first got to Carolina, the roster online said I was No. 83," Heck said recently, "and I was like, 'Alright, I'm playing tight end.' But I show up, (get) No. 67, go to meetings (and am told), 'Here are your knee braces.' So (I went) straight to O-line."
In the four years since then, Heck has grown into his 6-foot-8 frame and now weighs 315 pounds entering his redshirt senior season. He's also emerged as the anchor of UNC's offensive line and a potential NFL Draft pick.
Heck's transformation into one of college football's best tackles might surprise some. He's steadily progressed, though, as he has proceeded to follow in the footsteps of his brother and father.
"My dad had a successful career in the NFL," Heck said, "and I have ambitions to go play in the NFL. Jon was a great player for the Tar Heels, and now he's part of the strength staff. So I'm working with him every day and I get to hear his advice and bounce (stuff) off him about the experiences we've shared."
Jon, Carolina's starting right tackle from 2013-16, never experienced a coaching change during his college career. But Heck, the Tar Heels' starting right tackle the last two seasons, has appeared to adapt to Mack Brown's staff and the left tackle job vacated by William Sweet.
In new offensive coordinator Phil Longo's Air Raid offense, UNC still runs gap and zone schemes. The offensive line, however, is tasked with being faster to and off the ball than in previous years. Heck said all the linemen gradually adjusted to that in the spring. They also acclimated to the staff signaling in plays just once pre-snap as opposed to multiple times.
Heck also had to get used to learning from his new position coach, Stacy Searels. That's an opportunity he fully embraced.
"Charlie Heck is a pleasure to coach," said Searels at the end of spring ball. "A lot of times you can come into a new system, a new program, and you've got a senior who may balk at coaching because I may do something a little different from a previous coach or something like that. But Charlie has embraced what we're trying to teach and he's been a pleasure to coach.
"I think if he continues to grow, get stronger and play physical, he can play as long as he wants to play."
A season ago, Heck allowed 12 pressures (one sack, four quarterback hits and seven hurries) on 431 pass-blocking snaps at right tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. That resulted in an 84.5 pass-blocking grade, the highest among returning ACC offensive tackles (min. 300 snaps).
Carolina hopes Heck can experience the same sort of success protecting the quarterback's blind side. His leadership will be just as crucial, though. And he's well aware of that.
"As a fifth-year senior and returning starter, something that I've been pushing myself to do is become more of a vocal leader," said Heck, whose 22 career starts are tied with Aaron Crawford for the most on the team. "In general, I'm more of a quiet person. So that's been something I've been working on since the spring, just kind of pushing people along, getting more comfortable being able to hold somebody accountable and hold myself accountable, as well."
With Heck at left tackle and Jordan Tucker's emergence as the potential starter at right tackle, the Tar Heels appear to have stability at both positions. Nick Polino brings invaluable experience to the interior offensive line. But the other two starters likely won't be determined until closer to the season opener against South Carolina.
Even then, the offensive line could be one of UNC's strongest positions this season. Heck knows it will need to be if he and his fellow classmates are to finish their Carolina careers on a high note.
"When I got here as a freshman (in 2015), we went to the ACC Championship, and then we had a great year going to the Sun Bowl (in 2016)," Heck said. "Then we had those two poor years. So I've been with the winning and I've been with the losing. I want to get back on top and start kicking Carolina football back into the right direction again."
Players Mentioned
Defensive Line
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Offensive Line
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Offensive Line
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Offensive Tackle
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Offensive Line
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