University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Better Prepared
September 5, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Through the first four games of last season, Myles Wolfolk felt as if he was coming into his own.
Thrust into a starting role after Myles Dorn sustained an injury in North Carolina's season opener, Wolfolk filled in admirably during his longtime roommate's absence, taking command of the secondary and tallying 23 tackles. Only Cole Holcomb had more. Even more impressive, Wolfolk did all that while fighting through a shoulder injury.
When he suffered the injury, Wolfolk said he thought it was season-ending. But it got slightly better over time. The pain never fully went away, though. So, upon realizing he'd need surgery, he decided to go ahead and undergo the procedure in October, cutting his season short.
Wolfolk knew going under the knife then would have him better prepared for this season. But that didn't make the recovery process any easier.
"I was down, I was hurting and there were times when I questioned football, there were times when I questioned what I'm doing with my life," the redshirt junior free safety said. "And God brought me out of it. He made me refocus and realize that this is for me and I can't give up and that I needed to go out there and prove to people I can play."
Back and healthy, he proved that and more last Saturday.
In helping UNC to a 24-20 win over South Carolina, Wolfolk recorded six tackles and a pair of interceptions, including a game-clinching pick with 1:43 to play. The two interceptions doubled his career total. They also led to him finishing with a 92.3 defensive grade, the third best among Power 5 players after Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Wolfolk's performance earned him ACC Defensive Back of the Week, PFF National Defensive Team of the Week and Athlon Sports National Defensive Player of the Week honors. But those paled in comparison to him becoming the inaugural recipient of the turnover belt.
The brainchild of former Tar Heel defensive back and current cornerbacks coach Dre Bly, the turnover belt bears a resemblance to those worn by WWE or boxing champions. Bly had a similar belt made for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Hoping to incentivize forcing turnovers, he asked the person who designed his to create the turnover belt. It's Carolina Blue and silver, and reads "Carolina Football" and "Be the One."
Since returning to Chapel Hill in December, Bly has ensured Carolina's defensive backs embrace and understand what it means to be a Rude Boy, the nickname bestowed upon the position group when Bly was playing. The turnover belt reflects that.
"Coach Dre lived this life," Wolfolk said. "He was a Tar Heel. He was the turnover king. That was a big part of why he wanted to do this. He wanted to get the guys on the level he was on. He bleeds turnovers."
Wolfolk and his fellow defensive backs are starting to, too.
A three-time All-American from 1996-98, Bly posted 20 interceptions during his college career. At the time, that total was an ACC record. His 11 interceptions in 1996 were also the most ever by an ACC player in a single season.
As a player, Bly said he might not have been the most physical, but he specialized in getting the ball. As a coach, he encourages his players to take whatever they specialize in and be better than anyone else at it. For Wolfolk, that's playing instinctively, Bly said.
"What he brings to the table is I think he's a great leader, he's very smart, he's like the quarterback back there," Bly said. "That's one of the things that stands out with him is how smart he is. His second interception (against South Carolina), I think it defines who he is as a player."
With the Gamecocks facing third-and-10 at UNC's 26-yard line, Bly said the coaches called a play in which the boundary corner, the one nearest Wolfolk, would blitz and Wolfolk would cover his man. That didn't happen, though, as the corner stayed with the receiver.
Luckily for the Tar Heels, Wolfolk noticed that. He also recognized South Carolina was running the same play, a "Four Verticals" concept out of a quads formation, that it had used to pick up a first down during its third-quarter touchdown drive.
Quarterback Jake Bentley had connected with tight end Kyle Markway then. This time, Wolfolk sensed Markway coming across the field, undercut his route and picked off the pass.
"He just was smart and was able to be instinctive and make a play," Bly said. "I think that's what he brings to the back end of our defense is his smarts for the game. He's a great leader. And that's the way you start this thing off."
When Bly unveiled the turnover belt the night before the opener, Wolfolk told him and his teammates that he wanted to be the first to get it. It took about 57 minutes of game time before he did not once, but twice.
"We kept saying the whole game, 'We need to get the ball. We need to get the ball back,'" Bly said. "We played almost four quarters and we didn't get the ball and he was able to get that first one and then it started coming in bunches. Just to see the excitement they brought to the defense, to feel after that play that, 'I'm the king, I'm the turnover king,' I know it felt good to him."
Even more so after last season ended prematurely.
"It was a special feeling, I would say something I haven't felt in a long time, probably since high school. …" Wolfolk said. "God really blessed me with this past game and I'm going to continue to pray and to live for Him and He's going to continue to bless me."
Through the first four games of last season, Myles Wolfolk felt as if he was coming into his own.
Thrust into a starting role after Myles Dorn sustained an injury in North Carolina's season opener, Wolfolk filled in admirably during his longtime roommate's absence, taking command of the secondary and tallying 23 tackles. Only Cole Holcomb had more. Even more impressive, Wolfolk did all that while fighting through a shoulder injury.
When he suffered the injury, Wolfolk said he thought it was season-ending. But it got slightly better over time. The pain never fully went away, though. So, upon realizing he'd need surgery, he decided to go ahead and undergo the procedure in October, cutting his season short.
Wolfolk knew going under the knife then would have him better prepared for this season. But that didn't make the recovery process any easier.
"I was down, I was hurting and there were times when I questioned football, there were times when I questioned what I'm doing with my life," the redshirt junior free safety said. "And God brought me out of it. He made me refocus and realize that this is for me and I can't give up and that I needed to go out there and prove to people I can play."
Back and healthy, he proved that and more last Saturday.
In helping UNC to a 24-20 win over South Carolina, Wolfolk recorded six tackles and a pair of interceptions, including a game-clinching pick with 1:43 to play. The two interceptions doubled his career total. They also led to him finishing with a 92.3 defensive grade, the third best among Power 5 players after Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Wolfolk's performance earned him ACC Defensive Back of the Week, PFF National Defensive Team of the Week and Athlon Sports National Defensive Player of the Week honors. But those paled in comparison to him becoming the inaugural recipient of the turnover belt.
The brainchild of former Tar Heel defensive back and current cornerbacks coach Dre Bly, the turnover belt bears a resemblance to those worn by WWE or boxing champions. Bly had a similar belt made for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Hoping to incentivize forcing turnovers, he asked the person who designed his to create the turnover belt. It's Carolina Blue and silver, and reads "Carolina Football" and "Be the One."
Since returning to Chapel Hill in December, Bly has ensured Carolina's defensive backs embrace and understand what it means to be a Rude Boy, the nickname bestowed upon the position group when Bly was playing. The turnover belt reflects that.
"Coach Dre lived this life," Wolfolk said. "He was a Tar Heel. He was the turnover king. That was a big part of why he wanted to do this. He wanted to get the guys on the level he was on. He bleeds turnovers."
Wolfolk and his fellow defensive backs are starting to, too.
A three-time All-American from 1996-98, Bly posted 20 interceptions during his college career. At the time, that total was an ACC record. His 11 interceptions in 1996 were also the most ever by an ACC player in a single season.
As a player, Bly said he might not have been the most physical, but he specialized in getting the ball. As a coach, he encourages his players to take whatever they specialize in and be better than anyone else at it. For Wolfolk, that's playing instinctively, Bly said.
"What he brings to the table is I think he's a great leader, he's very smart, he's like the quarterback back there," Bly said. "That's one of the things that stands out with him is how smart he is. His second interception (against South Carolina), I think it defines who he is as a player."
With the Gamecocks facing third-and-10 at UNC's 26-yard line, Bly said the coaches called a play in which the boundary corner, the one nearest Wolfolk, would blitz and Wolfolk would cover his man. That didn't happen, though, as the corner stayed with the receiver.
Luckily for the Tar Heels, Wolfolk noticed that. He also recognized South Carolina was running the same play, a "Four Verticals" concept out of a quads formation, that it had used to pick up a first down during its third-quarter touchdown drive.
Quarterback Jake Bentley had connected with tight end Kyle Markway then. This time, Wolfolk sensed Markway coming across the field, undercut his route and picked off the pass.
"He just was smart and was able to be instinctive and make a play," Bly said. "I think that's what he brings to the back end of our defense is his smarts for the game. He's a great leader. And that's the way you start this thing off."
When Bly unveiled the turnover belt the night before the opener, Wolfolk told him and his teammates that he wanted to be the first to get it. It took about 57 minutes of game time before he did not once, but twice.
"We kept saying the whole game, 'We need to get the ball. We need to get the ball back,'" Bly said. "We played almost four quarters and we didn't get the ball and he was able to get that first one and then it started coming in bunches. Just to see the excitement they brought to the defense, to feel after that play that, 'I'm the king, I'm the turnover king,' I know it felt good to him."
Even more so after last season ended prematurely.
"It was a special feeling, I would say something I haven't felt in a long time, probably since high school. …" Wolfolk said. "God really blessed me with this past game and I'm going to continue to pray and to live for Him and He's going to continue to bless me."
Players Mentioned
Defensive Back
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Linebacker
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