University of North Carolina Athletics
Inside The Numbers: First Edition
September 14, 2020 | Football
Inside the Numbers (ITN) is a new feature that can be found exclusively on GoHeels.com each week following a Carolina football game. Here you will find interesting news and numbers focused around the Tar Heels on the gridiron.
PFF PERFORMERS
• According to our friends over at Pro Football Focus (PFF), Michael Carter (75.9) and Myles Wolfolk (83.5) graded out as the best offensive and defensive players, respectively, against Syracuse last Saturday afternoon.
• Carter was named to the PFF Team of the Week
North Carolina running back Michael Carter also had himself a day, making a significant impact in both facets of play. He turned three of seven targets and two of seven carries into a 10-plus-yard gain. Carter was a big-play threat for the Tar Heels alongside Javonte Williams in 2019 (he had nine 25-plus-yard runs, third-most in the conference) and picked up right where he left off. We haven't quite seen Carter get as much work as a receiver in a single game in years past, but he clearly showed he should be from here on out.
• Sam Howell ranked fourth nationally with a 61.5 passer rating against pressure with a minimum of 10 dropbacks.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Carolina jumped six spots to No. 12 in the Associated Press poll this week, while the Tar Heels moved up eight places to No. 11 in the Amway Coaches Poll.
• UNC last played as the No. 12 team in the nation on Nov. 21, 2015. The Tar Heels defeated Virginia Tech 30-27 in overtime to clinch the ACC's Coastal Division and spoil Frank Beamer's final home game with the Hokies.
• This marks the highest ranking since December 2015 when Carolina was No. 10 leading into the Camping World Bowl in Orlando.
• UNC is one of seven teams from the ACC ranked this week in the AP Top 25. Only the SEC with eight has more ranked programs after two weeks.
ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Chazz Surratt's awards in 2020 continue to roll in for the preseason All-America selection. Surratt set new career highs in sacks (2) and TFL (2.5) and had a game-high nine tackles against Syracuse to earn ACC Linebacker of the Week honors.
• Surratt earned the same honor last year after making the game-saving interception at the goal line against Duke. Oh yeah, he also had 12 tackles and a sack.
• The former signal caller earned conference rookie of the week honors way back in 2017 after a 12-of-14 passing performance with a pair of touchdowns against No. 17 Louisville and future NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
ACC LEADERS
• Javonte Williams tops the conference with three touchdowns and 18 points scored after his performance last Saturday.
• Tomari Fox and Surratt are tied with four others around the conference with two sacks apiece.
• Giovanni Biggers is one of nine players in the league to haul in an interception last weekend.
• Sam Howell completed an ACC best 25 passes.
• Dazz Newsome had the most punt return yards (93) and the longest return (38). He also led the ACC in combined punt/kick return yards with 112 (93 punt, 19 kick).
FOUR WINS IN A ROW
• Carolina has won its last four games, its first four-game win streak since 2016. In those four games, opponents are averaging only nine points and 247 yards of offense.
• UNC outscored its final three opponents by a 152-30 margin in 2019: Mercer (56-7), NC State (41-10) and Temple (55-13).
• Add the 31-6 win over Syracuse and the four game stretch has seen Carolina score 183 points or 45.8 per game, while the opposition has been limited to 36 total points.
• The 36 points allowed are the fewest over a four-game stretch for Carolina since the end of the 1999 and start of the 2000 campaigns. UNC surrendered a total of 34 points over the final three games of '99 and the opener in '00.
NO TD'S ALLOWED
• Carolina's defense did not surrender a touchdown against Syracuse, the first time since shutting out Idaho, 66-0, on Sept. 9, 2012.
• It was also the fewest points allowed against an ACC opponent since Duke scored six on Nov. 7, 2009.
D-FENCE
• Carolina's defense registered seven sacks for the first time since the Pitt game in 2013. Five different players had at least one sack.
• Carolina allowed 202 total yards, the fewest by an ACC opponent since Boston College gained 198 in 2009.
WINNING THE 4Q
• Carolina picked up right where it left off in 2019 by dominating its opponents in the fourth quarter. UNC outscored Syracuse, 21-0, in the 2020 season opener on Sept. 12.
• Last season, Carolina ranked third in the FBS (1st ACC) with a +69 (120-51) point differential in the fourth quarter. UNC ranked ninth worst in FBS in 2017-18 at -72.
Top 4th Quarter Scoring Margin (FBS since – 2019)
PFF PERFORMERS
• According to our friends over at Pro Football Focus (PFF), Michael Carter (75.9) and Myles Wolfolk (83.5) graded out as the best offensive and defensive players, respectively, against Syracuse last Saturday afternoon.
• Carter was named to the PFF Team of the Week
North Carolina running back Michael Carter also had himself a day, making a significant impact in both facets of play. He turned three of seven targets and two of seven carries into a 10-plus-yard gain. Carter was a big-play threat for the Tar Heels alongside Javonte Williams in 2019 (he had nine 25-plus-yard runs, third-most in the conference) and picked up right where he left off. We haven't quite seen Carter get as much work as a receiver in a single game in years past, but he clearly showed he should be from here on out.
The top Running Backs in the country from Wk 2⚡️ pic.twitter.com/F9QZ2e93bC
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 14, 2020
• Sam Howell ranked fourth nationally with a 61.5 passer rating against pressure with a minimum of 10 dropbacks.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Carolina jumped six spots to No. 12 in the Associated Press poll this week, while the Tar Heels moved up eight places to No. 11 in the Amway Coaches Poll.
• UNC last played as the No. 12 team in the nation on Nov. 21, 2015. The Tar Heels defeated Virginia Tech 30-27 in overtime to clinch the ACC's Coastal Division and spoil Frank Beamer's final home game with the Hokies.
• This marks the highest ranking since December 2015 when Carolina was No. 10 leading into the Camping World Bowl in Orlando.
• UNC is one of seven teams from the ACC ranked this week in the AP Top 25. Only the SEC with eight has more ranked programs after two weeks.
ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Chazz Surratt's awards in 2020 continue to roll in for the preseason All-America selection. Surratt set new career highs in sacks (2) and TFL (2.5) and had a game-high nine tackles against Syracuse to earn ACC Linebacker of the Week honors.
• Surratt earned the same honor last year after making the game-saving interception at the goal line against Duke. Oh yeah, he also had 12 tackles and a sack.
• The former signal caller earned conference rookie of the week honors way back in 2017 after a 12-of-14 passing performance with a pair of touchdowns against No. 17 Louisville and future NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
ACC LEADERS
• Javonte Williams tops the conference with three touchdowns and 18 points scored after his performance last Saturday.
• Tomari Fox and Surratt are tied with four others around the conference with two sacks apiece.
• Giovanni Biggers is one of nine players in the league to haul in an interception last weekend.
• Sam Howell completed an ACC best 25 passes.
• Dazz Newsome had the most punt return yards (93) and the longest return (38). He also led the ACC in combined punt/kick return yards with 112 (93 punt, 19 kick).
FOUR WINS IN A ROW
• Carolina has won its last four games, its first four-game win streak since 2016. In those four games, opponents are averaging only nine points and 247 yards of offense.
• UNC outscored its final three opponents by a 152-30 margin in 2019: Mercer (56-7), NC State (41-10) and Temple (55-13).
• Add the 31-6 win over Syracuse and the four game stretch has seen Carolina score 183 points or 45.8 per game, while the opposition has been limited to 36 total points.
• The 36 points allowed are the fewest over a four-game stretch for Carolina since the end of the 1999 and start of the 2000 campaigns. UNC surrendered a total of 34 points over the final three games of '99 and the opener in '00.
NO TD'S ALLOWED
• Carolina's defense did not surrender a touchdown against Syracuse, the first time since shutting out Idaho, 66-0, on Sept. 9, 2012.
• It was also the fewest points allowed against an ACC opponent since Duke scored six on Nov. 7, 2009.
D-FENCE
• Carolina's defense registered seven sacks for the first time since the Pitt game in 2013. Five different players had at least one sack.
• Carolina allowed 202 total yards, the fewest by an ACC opponent since Boston College gained 198 in 2009.
WINNING THE 4Q
• Carolina picked up right where it left off in 2019 by dominating its opponents in the fourth quarter. UNC outscored Syracuse, 21-0, in the 2020 season opener on Sept. 12.
• Last season, Carolina ranked third in the FBS (1st ACC) with a +69 (120-51) point differential in the fourth quarter. UNC ranked ninth worst in FBS in 2017-18 at -72.
Top 4th Quarter Scoring Margin (FBS since – 2019)
| North Carolina | +90 |
| Ohio State | +87 |
| Florida | +85 |
| Appalachian State | +73 |
Players Mentioned
Defensive Back
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Running Back
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Defensive Line
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Quarterback
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Wide Receiver
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Linebacker
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Running Back
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Defensive Back
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