GoHeels Exclusive: Myles Wolfolk Q&A

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

Sidelined for all but four games last season due to injury, Myles Wolfolk was limited to non-contact drills throughout spring ball. But now fully healthy, the redshirt junior figures to be among the veterans who will bring stability to North Carolina's secondary this fall.

Speaking with reporters after UNC's third training camp practice on Sunday, Wolfolk discussed his health and what it's like playing in Jay Bateman's defense, among other topics. The following is an excerpt from the interview.

Q: You were one of the players dealing with an injury in the spring. How are you feeling?

Myles Wolfolk: I'm great. I'm 100 percent healthy and ready to ball. I'm back in pads. No yellow jersey. I'm back and active.

Q: What did it take to get where you are right now?

MW: Hard work, dedication, everything you're supposed to have in football. You just had to attack the day, just be positive about everything and attack the rehab just like you attack any workout. It's a grind. You don't want to get hurt, but obviously, it happens. So you just have to attack the day and take your rehab seriously, just like practice. That's what I did, and now I'm back and I'm ready.

Q: What's the difference in the safety's role in this defense compared to what you did the last couple of seasons?

MW: Compared to the last couple of seasons, we're a lot more active, I would say. We're doing a lot more moving around and blitzing a lot more. Other than that, I think it's kind of the same role. We're really vocal, being the quarterbacks of the defense.

Q: Is there a lot more chatter, in general, on the defense, especially pre-snap, right now than there was in the previous defense?

MW: I would say there's a lot more going on because the defense is a lot more complex. We've got a few different calls going in, so almost every call has a different tag with it. So we're just talking all play.

Q: Do you guys talk more because you see more of what's going on?

MW: Yeah, we have to. We're the quarterbacks of the defense; we've got to talk the most. We have to get it to the backers so the backers can get it to the line.

Q: What's the most fun about playing in Coach Bateman's defense?

MW: It's a lot of fun playing in Bateman's defense. I would say the most is the way we rotate and can disguise as a secondary. So, the safeties, we're doing a lot of disguising, a lot of roaming around. We're just so multiple in this defense, so it's very fun.

Q: Are there times when y'all are on the line almost?

MW: Some calls we can be. It depends on what's going on, what situation we get from the offense and formations and all that. But there are times. Like I said, we're moving around.

Q: What cornerbacks are standing out? We know Patrice (Rene) and we know Greg Ross has played some. Who are some other guys who are kind of going to fill those other two or three roles?

MW: Obviously, Trey Morrison is going back to corner, and that's going to be very exciting. I like all our corners, really. Storm Duck is doing really well. Javon Terry, they're moving him around. He's looking good. Like you said, Greg Ross is looking good. All our guys are coming along. I think everybody just has to keep going, keep competing, and it's going to be fun.

Q: Trey is not at nickelback anymore?

MW: Trey is doing both right now. We're going to just see how the defense rolls. We're all rotating around. Bateman told us to make sure we're DBs, not just corners or safeties. So everybody is learning everything, everybody is rotating and we're just going to see the best five.

Q: I know DeAndre Hollins said he got a lot of work at nickel in the spring. Is that where he is now?

MW: Yeah, that's where he's working right now. He's also getting some corner and some safety, too. Like I said, everybody is rotating. I'm getting some free (safety), I'm getting some nickel, too. We're all working.

Q: What's Bateman like on the field coaching you? What's his personality like in the moment?

MW: He's actually a lot more quiet in the moment than he is in the meeting room. He's big on details. He's fun to play for. He makes it fun for us. Like I said, he's letting us move around a lot. But he's very stern on details, so he wants us just to stay focused and lock in on the little stuff.

Players Mentioned

Ladaeson DeAndre Hollins

Trey Morrison

Greg Ross

Javon Terry

Myles Wolfolk