University of North Carolina Athletics

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Inside The Numbers: Notre Dame Game
November 2, 2021 | Football
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.

Most TDs Responsible For (TDs scored, passed for and receiving
101 - Sam Howell, 2019-present (rushed for 12, passed for 87, caught two)
99 - Marquise Williams, 2012-2015 (rushed for 35, passed for 61, caught 3)
ACC Career Touchdown Responsible For Leaders
133 - Tajh Boyd, Clemson, 2010-13
119 - Lamar Jackson, Louisville, 2015-17
116 - Deshaun Watson, Clemson, 2014-16
112 - Philip Rivers, NC State, 2000-03
108 - Trevor Lawrence, Clemson, 2018-20
101 - Sam Howell, 2019-present
Sam Howell has 2,192 passing yards, 598 rushing yards and has accounted for 25 total touchdowns through eight games this season. There are only four other QBs to have a 2,100/550/25 stat line since 2010.
2012 Johnny Manziel - Heisman Trophy winner
2016 Lamar Jackson - Heisman Trophy winner
2017 Lamar Jackson - Heisman Trophy finalist
2019 Jalen Hurts - Heisman Trophy finalist
Sam Howell has taken over as UNC's career passing yards leader with 9,419, topping T.J. Yates' previous mark of 9,377. Howell accomplished the feat in 33 games. Yates played in 45.
Howell eclipsed 10,000 yards of total offense in his career. He will enter Saturday's game with Wake Forest 238 yards from Marquise Williams' school record of 10,423. Williams played in 47 games from 2012-15.
Josh Downs has 70 receptions in eight games this season, already the sixth most catches in a season. Additionally, he is only 21 yards away from becoming only the sixth UNC receiver to ever notch 1,000 yards in a single season.
Yards, Name, Year
1,222, Hakeem Nicks, 2008
1,196 Dwight Jones, 2011
1,112 Ryan Switzer, 2016
1,099 Dyami Brown, 2020
1,034 Dyami Brown, 2019
1,018 Dazz Newsome, 2019
990 Sam Aiken, 2002
979 Josh Downs, 2021
973 Eric Ebron, 2013
970 Octavus Barnes, 1995
3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS
• Carolina ranks second behind Wake Forest (52.1%) in the ACC by converting 49.5 percent (49 of 99) of its third-down opportunities.
• Nationally, the Demon Deacons are fifth, while the Tar Heels are ninth.
EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
• Carolina and Florida State lead the ACC and are tied for 7th nationally with six plays of 60 or more yards.
• UNC also leads the ACC with 10 plays of 50+ yards and ranks second nationally behind only Liberty with 30 plays of 30+ yards.
NO FLY ZONE
• Carolina is seventh in the ACC by limiting opponents to only 221.0 passing yards per game.
• UNC has allowed less than 200 passing yards in five of eight games.
SACK PARTY
• Carolina had a season-high five sacks against Duke on Oct. 2. Five different Tar Heels registered sacks, one each coming from Tomon Fox, Tomari Fox, Myles Murphy, Chris Colllins and Kevin Hester, Jr.
• Hester's sack caused a fumble that was picked up and returned 63 yards for a touchdown by Trey Morrison.
TAKEAWAY ARTISTS
• Carolina already has 10 takeaways on defense through eight games in 2021 and rank tied for seventh in the ACC with seven interceptions.
• The Tar Heels created just 11 turnovers in 2020.
• Ja'Qurious Conley, Cedric Gray and Cam'Ron Kelly each have a pair of interceptions to lead the Tar Heel defense.
• Conley, Desmond Evans and Trey Morrison have each made a fumble recovery.
• Morrison scooped up a fumble and scored from 63 yards out against Duke.
• UNC has also forced five fumbles in 2021.
NFL TWEETS

Most TDs Responsible For (TDs scored, passed for and receiving
101 - Sam Howell, 2019-present (rushed for 12, passed for 87, caught two)
99 - Marquise Williams, 2012-2015 (rushed for 35, passed for 61, caught 3)
ACC Career Touchdown Responsible For Leaders
133 - Tajh Boyd, Clemson, 2010-13
119 - Lamar Jackson, Louisville, 2015-17
116 - Deshaun Watson, Clemson, 2014-16
112 - Philip Rivers, NC State, 2000-03
108 - Trevor Lawrence, Clemson, 2018-20
101 - Sam Howell, 2019-present
Sam Howell has 2,192 passing yards, 598 rushing yards and has accounted for 25 total touchdowns through eight games this season. There are only four other QBs to have a 2,100/550/25 stat line since 2010.
2012 Johnny Manziel - Heisman Trophy winner
2016 Lamar Jackson - Heisman Trophy winner
2017 Lamar Jackson - Heisman Trophy finalist
2019 Jalen Hurts - Heisman Trophy finalist
Sam Howell has taken over as UNC's career passing yards leader with 9,419, topping T.J. Yates' previous mark of 9,377. Howell accomplished the feat in 33 games. Yates played in 45.
Howell eclipsed 10,000 yards of total offense in his career. He will enter Saturday's game with Wake Forest 238 yards from Marquise Williams' school record of 10,423. Williams played in 47 games from 2012-15.
The BEST QBs of Week 9 🚀 pic.twitter.com/pu8zCxOrnh
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 1, 2021
Josh Downs has 70 receptions in eight games this season, already the sixth most catches in a season. Additionally, he is only 21 yards away from becoming only the sixth UNC receiver to ever notch 1,000 yards in a single season.
Yards, Name, Year
1,222, Hakeem Nicks, 2008
1,196 Dwight Jones, 2011
1,112 Ryan Switzer, 2016
1,099 Dyami Brown, 2020
1,034 Dyami Brown, 2019
1,018 Dazz Newsome, 2019
990 Sam Aiken, 2002
979 Josh Downs, 2021
973 Eric Ebron, 2013
970 Octavus Barnes, 1995
3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS
• Carolina ranks second behind Wake Forest (52.1%) in the ACC by converting 49.5 percent (49 of 99) of its third-down opportunities.
• Nationally, the Demon Deacons are fifth, while the Tar Heels are ninth.
EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
• Carolina and Florida State lead the ACC and are tied for 7th nationally with six plays of 60 or more yards.
• UNC also leads the ACC with 10 plays of 50+ yards and ranks second nationally behind only Liberty with 30 plays of 30+ yards.
NO FLY ZONE
• Carolina is seventh in the ACC by limiting opponents to only 221.0 passing yards per game.
• UNC has allowed less than 200 passing yards in five of eight games.
SACK PARTY
• Carolina had a season-high five sacks against Duke on Oct. 2. Five different Tar Heels registered sacks, one each coming from Tomon Fox, Tomari Fox, Myles Murphy, Chris Colllins and Kevin Hester, Jr.
• Hester's sack caused a fumble that was picked up and returned 63 yards for a touchdown by Trey Morrison.
TAKEAWAY ARTISTS
• Carolina already has 10 takeaways on defense through eight games in 2021 and rank tied for seventh in the ACC with seven interceptions.
• The Tar Heels created just 11 turnovers in 2020.
• Ja'Qurious Conley, Cedric Gray and Cam'Ron Kelly each have a pair of interceptions to lead the Tar Heel defense.
• Conley, Desmond Evans and Trey Morrison have each made a fumble recovery.
• Morrison scooped up a fumble and scored from 63 yards out against Duke.
• UNC has also forced five fumbles in 2021.
NFL TWEETS
.@8kMike balled out today in the @nyjets' win 😤
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) October 31, 2021
77 yards on the ground and 95 yards through the air, including this TD ⬇️ #CarolinaFootball 🏈 #ProHeels pic.twitter.com/tlwYeHOt5a
Brady finds Bernard and the @Buccaneers cut the deficit. #GoBucs
— NFL (@NFL) October 31, 2021
📺: #TBvsNO on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/dxxjH9MCZl
Players Mentioned
Offensive Lineman Chad Lindberg Media Availability - 10/21
Tuesday, October 21
Head Coach Bill Belichick Pre-Virginia Press Conference
Tuesday, October 21
Carolina Insider - Interview with Ivan Matlekovic (Full Segment) - October 20, 2025
Monday, October 20
Carolina Insider - Interview with Michael Malone (Full Segment) - October 17, 2025
Monday, October 20