Inside the Numbers (ITN) returns for the 2021 season and will continue to keep Tar Heel football fans up to date with interesting news and numbers from the gridiron, and will include some of the top social media posts following each game.
Carolina improved to 12-11 all-time against Miami with a thrilling 45-42 victory last Saturday evening. The Tar Heels have dominated the series in Chapel Hill with seven wins in 10 games, and have won three in a row overall against the Hurricanes.
Cedric Gray's second interception of the game helped seal the victory over the Hurricanes. Sam Howell accounted for four of Carolina's six touchdowns last week against Miami. His 11-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter was his 99th touchdown responsible for in his career that spans just 32 games. That figure equals the school mark set by Marquise Williams, who played in 47 games between 2012-2015.Â
Most TDs Responsible For (TDs scored, passed for and receiving
99 - Sam Howell, 2019-present (rushed for 11, passed for 86, caught two)
99 - Marquise Williams, 2012-2015 (rushed for 35, passed for 61, caught 3)
Howell is second in the nation with 27 rushing this season of 10 or more yards. Most Rushes of 10+ Yards, Nationally
31 - Malik Willis, Liberty
27 - Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
27 - Sam Howell
Howell continued his march up the ACC career touchdown leaderboard as well with his 27th multiple passing TD game of his career. ACC Career Touchdown Leaders
107 - Tajh Boyd, Clemson, 2010-13
95 - Philip Rivers, NC State, 2000-03
90 - Â Â Â Deshaun Watson, Clemson, 2014-16
90 - Trevor Lawrence, Clemson, 2018-20
86 - Â Â Â Sam Howell, 2019-present
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Josh Downs was named ACC Receiver of the Week for the third time in the last five weeks and becomes the only Tar Heel receiver to ever earn the league's receiver of the week honor three times in a single season. Downs hauled in a career-high 11 receptions, the most ever in a game by a UNC sophomore and was the most by a Carolina player against the University of Miami.Â
Most Receptions, Nationally
69 - Jerreth Sterns, Western Kentucky
64 - Drake London, USC
60 - Josh Downs, North Carolina
Most Receiving Yards, Nationally
962 - Jerreth Sterns, Western Kentucky
857 - Calvin Austin III, Memphis
837 - Josh Downs, North Carolina (Leads all Power 5)
Most Receiving TD, Nationally
10 - Jalen Cropper, Fresno State
9 - Jordan Addison, Pitt & Kayshon Boutte, LSU
8 - Josh Downs, North Carolina, three others tied
Most Yards After Catch, Nationally
558 - Jerreth Sterns, Western Kentucky
525 - Josh Downs, North Carolina
445 - Calvin Austin III, Memphis
Most First Downs, Nationally
40 - Jerreth Sterns, Western Kentucky
39 - Drake London, USC
36 - Josh Downs, North Carolina
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Josh Downs has now scored a touchdown in eight consecutive games, tying Javonte Williams (2020) and Gio Bernard (2012) for the second-longest touchdown streak in @UNCFootball history.
Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice scored in nine straight games between the 1947 and 1948 seasons.
Senior defensive lineman Ray Vohasek has graded out as the top defensive lineman in the ACC against the run in 2021 according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, his overall defensive grade of 76.9 ranks fourth in the league among defensive lineman.
Junior Cam'Ron Kelly grades out as the third best safety in the ACC with an overall defensive grade of 80.5, while his 82.4 grade for covering receivers tops all safeties in the league, according to PFF.
Defensive lineman Myles Murphy leads all ACC sophomores with 4.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss, both figures lead the Tar Heels.Â
UNC is second in the ACC with seven interceptions in 2021. The Tar Heels only had eight interceptions in 12 games during the 2020 campaign.Â