Inside the Numbers (ITN) is back for the 2022 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.
The most compelling story line throughout training camp for the Tar Heels was who would be named Q1 for the season-opening game against Florida A&M. Redshirt freshman Drake Maye earned the nod to start against the Rattlers and not only did he lead his team to a 56-24 victory, but he set a few program records along the way.
• Maye is the first Tar Heel to throw five touchdown passes in his starting debut and the first to ever toss five in a season opener. He became just the seventh UNC QB to throw five TDs in a single game.
• His 294 passing yards was the third most ever in a season opener, trailing only T.J. Yate's 412 vs. LSU in Atlanta in 2010 and Sam Howell's 295 yards against Syracuse in 2020.
Maye's .784 completion percentage is tied for the sixth highest who attempted 30+ passes in a game. Only three of those performances went for more yards than his 294 yards.
PFF TEAM OF THE WEEK: Week 0 Kaimon Rucker and Power Echols both landed on the PFF Team of the Week after outstanding performances on the defensive side of the ball last Saturday night. Rucker lead all Tar Heel defenders with an overall defensive grade of 94.5. He also led the team in grades for run defense and pass defense. He forced a fumble that led to a touchdown on the very next play and finished with a sack, two TFLs and four tackles.
Echols was second with an 83.4 overall defensive grade and a 90.4 pass rush grade. The second-year linebacker equaled his career high with a game-high 10 tackles and added a pair of TFLs in his first career start.
"TAILBACK U"Elijah Green
Last Saturday was just the fourth time since 1972 that four Tar Heels rushed for 50 yards in a game. Omarion Hampton (101), Elijah Green (69), Drake Maye (55) and George Pettaway (51) all notched more than 50 yards on the ground.
1972 at Clemson: Tim Kirkpatrick 111, Billy Hite 76, Dick Oliver 58, Ike Oglesby 51
1982 vs. Army: Tyrone Anthony 136, Bobby Ratliff 84, Ethan Horton 71, Eddie Colson 54
2012 vs. Idaho: Romar Morris 74, Gio Bernard 70, Marquise WIlliams 61, AJ Blue 54
• Hampton's 101 rushing yards marked the first Tar Heel true freshman to rush for over 100 yards in his first collegiate game since Carolina legend Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice ran for 102 yards against Virginia Tech on Sept. 28, 1046.
• Pettaway's debut featured a nifty 29-yard scamper that saw four FAMU defenders miss the rookie on his way to the end zone.
• Green and Maye both set career highs in rushing yards as well.
#TYLEESTRONG
Tar Heel wide receiver Tylee Craft spoke with ACC Network's Mark Herzlich, who is also a cancer survivor, about his ongoing cancer battle. A must watch!
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