Draft Scout Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20 Player News, College Football: Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20

Drake Maye threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more to continue his strong start to the season and North Carolina opened up Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 41-10 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday. Maye, a redshirt freshman, was able to consistently throw downfield, with 13 of his 26 completions going for at least 15 yards. He finished with 363 yards, going 26 of 36. Josh Downs led UNC (4-1, 1-0 ACC) with eight catches and 120 yards, and tight end Bryson Nesbit added 98 receiving yards on four receptions.

Grant Wells completed 16 of 26 passes for 139 yards and ran for a touchdown, but the Hokies (2-3, 1-1) struggled overall against a Tar Heel defense that turned in its best performance of the season. Linebacker Cedric Gray picked off Wells in the second quarter, which set up a 16-yard touchdown pass by Maye to Antoine Green one play later to give UNC a 21-3 lead, and the Hokies never never got closer than 11 points. The Tar Heels gave up nearly 500 yards per game in their first four contests, but UNC limited the number of big gainers by Virginia Tech. Wells never got in an extended rhythm, as the Hokies finished with only 273 yards. - AP College Football

(DS#3 QB) rSo/2024

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
News Source: AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/26/22 - Drake Maye, rSo/2024, North Carolina, 6-4, 223 (DS#3 QB) + More +

SEPT 26 ACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Drake Maye, North Carolina, QB, Huntersville, N.C.,...Named ACC Rookie of the Week for the second time following his performance in the Tar Heels' 45-32 loss to Notre Dame ... Had 337 total yards and threw five touchdown passes, raising his season total to 16 in four games ... Finished 17-of-32 passing for 301 yards and rushed for 36 yards. - ACC Football

(DS#3 QB) rSo/2024

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
News Source: ACC Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/13/22 - *Josh Downs, Jr/2023, North Carolina, 5-09, 171 (DS#5 WR) + More +

TRACKING TOP DRAFT PROSPECTS - WEEK 2: 25. Josh Downs, Jr, WR, North Carolina, 5-10, 175, 1,...North Carolina went to 3-0 with a 35-28 win over Georgia State but Downs was still not available because of a knee injury in the Tar Heels' opener. Previous week, No. 22: Downs did not play in North Carolina's epic, 63- 61 win over feisty Appalachian State. Downs was injured in the season-opening, 56-24, win over the Florida A&M Rattlers (FAMU). In that game he caught nine passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He limped off the field after his second score and wore ice on his left knee during a post-game. No word on if or when he will return. - Frank Cooney/NFL Draft Scout

(DS#5 WR) Jr/2023

WR *Josh Downs, North Carolina
News Source: Frank Cooney/NFL Draft Scout
Share/Comment: Here

09/12/22 - Omarion Hampton, Jr/2025, North Carolina, 6-0, 221 (DS#2 RB) + More +

SEPT 12 ACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, RB, Clayton, N.C.,...Scored two rushing touchdowns while running for a career-high 110 yards in Saturday's 35-28 win at Georgia State...Averaged 6.9 yards on 16 rushing attempts while scoring the game-tying and go-ahead touchdowns in the second half. - ACC Football

(DS#2 RB) Jr/2025

RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
News Source: ACC Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/12/22 - Cedric Gray, Sr/2024, North Carolina, 6-2, 241 (DS#2 ILB) + More +

SEPT 12 ACC LINEBACKER OF THE WEEK: Cedric Gray, North Carolina, LB, Charlotte, N.C.,...Notched his career high in tackles for the second week in a row with 14 in Saturday's 35-28 non-conference win at Georgia State...Added two TFLs as the Tar Heels posted their second consecutive road win and moved to 3-0 on the year. - ACC Football

(DS#2 ILB) Sr/2024

ILB Cedric Gray, North Carolina
News Source: ACC Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/10/22 - Drake Maye, rSo/2024, North Carolina, 6-4, 223 (DS#3 QB) + More +

Drake Maye passed for two touchdowns, Omarion Hampton ran for a pair of scores and North Carolina escaped another upset bid from a Sun Belt Conference team Saturday, rallying for a 35-28 victory over Georgia State after squandering an 18-point lead. The Tar Heels (3-0) were coming off a wild 63-61 victory at Appalachian State despite giving up a staggering 40 points in the fourth quarter. They hit the road again to face Georgia State (0-2), which was hosting a Power 5 team in Atlanta for the first time in the 13-year history of its program.

The Panthers ripped off 25 straight points to grab a 28-21 lead late in the third quarter. But Hampton broke off a 58-yard touchdown run right down the middle of field to tie the game before the end of the third. He won it for the Tar Heels on a 2-yard scoring plunge with 10:42 remaining, ensuring they escaped another close call. Hampton finished with 110 yards rushing on 16 carries. Darren Grainger threw three touchdown passes for Georgia State. North Carolina appeared headed for a more comfortable win after the previous week's craziness, building a 21-3 lead midway through the second quarter. Maye threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Kamari Morales and a 28-yarder to Kobe Paysour. - North Carolina/AP College Football

(DS#3 QB) rSo/2024

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
News Source: North Carolina/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/06/22 - Drake Maye, rSo/2024, North Carolina, 6-4, 223 (DS#3 QB) + More +

SEPT 6 ACC QB/ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Drake Maye, North Carolina, QB, Huntersville, N.C.,...Accounted for five touchdowns and 428 total yards of offense in the Tar Heels' 63-61 victory at Appalachian State...Completed 24 of 36 attempts for a career-high 352 passing yards with four touchdowns...Set another career high with 76 rushing yards and added a rushing touchdown. - ACC Football

(DS#3 QB) rSo/2024

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
News Source: ACC Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/06/22 - *Josh Downs, Jr/2023, North Carolina, 5-09, 171 (DS#5 WR) + More +

TRACKING TOP DRAFT PROSPECTS - WEEK 1: 22. Josh Downs, Jr, WR, North Carolina, 5-10, 175,...Downs did not play in North Carolina's epic, 63- 61 win over feisty Appalachian State. Downs was injured in the season-opening, 56-24, win over the Florida A&M Rattlers (FAMU). In that game he caught nine passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He limped off the field after his second score and wore ice on his left knee during a post-game. No word on if or when he will return. - Frank Cooney/NFL Draft Scout

(DS#5 WR) Jr/2023

WR *Josh Downs, North Carolina
News Source: Frank Cooney/NFL Draft Scout
Share/Comment: Here

09/03/22 - Drake Maye, rSo/2024, North Carolina, 6-4, 223 (DS#3 QB) + More +

Redshirt freshman Drake Maye continued his torrid start to the season, throwing for 352 yards and combining for five touchdowns as North Carolina outlasted Appalachian State 63-61 on Saturday despite surrendering 40 points in the fourth quarter. Maye, the younger brother of former Tar Heels basketball star Luke Maye, has thrown a school-record nine touchdown passes in two career starts. He also ran for a score against the Mountaineers. Chase Brice threw for 376 yards and six touchdowns for Appalachian State (0-1). The two teams combined for 62 points and 504 yards - in the fourth quarter. With the game tied at 49, Maye lofted a ball over the middle to D.J. Jones for a 42-yard touchdown pass on an all-out blitz by the Mountaineers to give North Carolina (2-0) the lead with 2:50 left in the game.

App State responded with Brice throwing his fifth TD pass of the game, a 28-yard strike to Deshaun Davis with 31 seconds left. The Mountaineers went for the 2-point conversion - and the apparent win - but Brice's pass sailed just over Davis' head. It seemed the game would end there, but UNC's Bryson Nesbit returned the ensuing onside kick for a 43-yard touchdown - a mistake that gave the Mountaineers 31 seconds to try to score again. Sure enough, Brice found Kaedin Robinson for a 26-yard TD strike with 9 seconds left to cut the lead to 63-61. The Mountaineers went for 2 but Brice was stopped short of the end zone. The Tar Heels fell behind 21-7 before rattling off 34 straight points and silence a record crowd of 40,168 at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Maye threw three TD passes in the first half, including a 10-yard TD strike to Nesbit to give the Tar Heels a 28-21 lead with 1 second left. - North Carolina/AP College Football

(DS#3 QB) rSo/2024

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
News Source: North Carolina/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/03/22 - *Josh Downs, Jr/2023, North Carolina, 5-09, 171 (DS#5 WR) + More +

North Carolina will be without its top wide receiver, Josh Downs, for Saturday's game at Appalachian State. The Tar Heels announced just before kickoff that Downs would not play due to a lower body injury. It's unclear how long he will be out. Downs had nine catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns in UNC's win over Florida A&M in Week 0 and led the ACC with 101 catches last season for 1,335 yards and eight TDs. He ranked in the top 11 in the country in FBS in yards receiving per game. Downs emerged from the locker room during pregame warmups in street clothes and did not warm up. - AP College Football

(DS#5 WR) Jr/2023

WR *Josh Downs, North Carolina
News Source: AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/01/22 - *Josh Downs, Jr/2023, North Carolina, 5-09, 171 (DS#5 WR) + More +

ESPN TOP 100 PRESEASON 2022 CFB PLAYERS (Selected Aug. 17): No. 26. Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina, Junior. Notable 2021 stats: 101 rec, 1,335 yards. Last year's ranking: NR. For the bulk of the 2021 season, every defense the Tar Heels played knew where the ball was going. Downs was not just the No. 1 target, but often the only reliable pass catcher. And even with all that attention from defenders, he still caught 101 balls for 1,335 yards. While UNC will have a new QB for 2022, it also expects to have a better supporting cast for its star receiver, which could make Downs an even bigger weapon. - ESPN.com

(DS#5 WR) Jr/2023

WR *Josh Downs, North Carolina
News Source: ESPN.com
Share/Comment: Here

08/28/22 - Drake Maye, rSo/2024, North Carolina, 6-4, 223 (DS#3 QB) + More +

Drake Maye threw four of his five touchdown passes in the first half in his first collegiate start and North Carolina beat undermanned Florida A&M 56-24 to open the season Saturday night. Six different North Carolina players scored touchdowns, with Josh Downs making two touchdown catches. Florida A&M arrived with a roster reduced by nearly two dozen players because of unresolved eligibility issues. The list of those absent included linebacker Isaiah Land, who led the Football Championship Subdivision in sacks last year.

Maye, a redshirt freshman and younger brother of former Tar Heels basketball standout Luke Maye, completed 29 of 37 passes for 294 yards. He had a couple notable achievements. He's the first North Carolina player to throw five touchdowns in a season opener and the first to connect for five touchdowns in a first career start. North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton scored on touchdown runs of 2 and 25 yards in his debut. He finished with 101 rushing yards on 14 carries. Florida A&M quarterback Jeremy Moussa threw for two touchdowns. He completed 28 of 38 passes for 279 yards with an interception. The Jaguars were within 21-14 until Downs' 2-yard touchdown catch with 5 seconds left in the first half. - North Carolina/AP College Football

(DS#3 QB) rSo/2024

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
News Source: North Carolina/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

08/21/22 - Bryson Nesbit, Sr/2025, North Carolina, 6-5, 238 (DS#17 TE) + More +

Well before North Carolina had any injuries to potential starters, offensive coordinator Phil Longo was exploring ways to get sophomore tight end Bryson Nesbit more involved in the offense. It just got more critical with starting receiver Antoine Green set to miss at least the first six games with a shoulder injury. Don't be surprised to see Nesbit split out wide at receiver. It's not a gimmick either; the offense isn't limited to certain plays when he is at receiver. "It's pretty open to everything," Nesbit said. "I mean, I've run the same offense that all of our other outside receivers are running right now."

Carolina isn't deep at receiver. In the spring, UNC coach Mack Brown contemplated recruiting a graduate transfer to make up for their lack of experience in the area. The position was depleted by the transfers of Khafre Brown, Emery Simmons and Beau Corrales. With Green injured, the Tar Heels have placed a renewed emphasis on tight end. Brown said they would consider going with "more two tight ends (sets) since Bryson can play both." The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Charlotte native got used to lining up wide in high school, where they would use his height advantage to throw fade routes and let him out jump smaller defenders for touchdowns. That's why Nesbit said his transition has been fairly seamless. "I would say it was pretty natural coming from high school, definitely playing 7-on-7 in high school as well," Nesbit said. "All that was playing outside receiver. I mean, it's fun. I love doing it." - Raleigh News Observer

(DS#17 TE) Sr/2025

TE Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina
News Source: Raleigh News Observer
Share/Comment: Here

08/16/22 - British Brooks, rSr/2024, North Carolina, 5-10, 219 (DS#50 RB) + More +

The UNC football program received some bad news, as they'll be without fifth-year senior and special teams captain British Brooks for the season. The injury woes continue for the UNC football program. First, it was wide receiver Antoine Green, who will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks with a collarbone injury. Now not only will the Tar Heels be without one of their top wide receiver targets, but they'll also be missing one of the players who was expected to make a big impact both in the backfield and on special teams this season.

Late on Saturday night, it was announced that fifth-year senior running back British Brooks will miss the entire 2022 season. The program is calling it a "lower-body injury," as the injury occurred during the team's practice earlier in the evening. This is devastating news for Brooks, as he was set to finally get his opportunity to shine in the Tar Heels backfield. After bursting onto the scene late last season, Brooks was slated to lead the UNC football program's running back room, one that is full of both talent and inexperience. His loss also drastically hurts the special teams unit, as he served as the captain of this group in each of the previous two seasons. For his work on special teams, Brooks has earned back-to-back special teams MVP awards for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. - Keeping It Heel

(DS#50 RB) rSr/2024

RB British Brooks, North Carolina
News Source: Keeping It Heel
Share/Comment: Here

08/15/22 - Willie Lampkin, rSr/2025, North Carolina, 5-11, 279 (DS#10 C) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCHLIST: Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina, Jr C,...Tabbed the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches and media, Stewart also picked up preseason All-Sun Belt first-team honors and earned a spot on both the 2022 Bednarik Award and the 2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list following a record-setting freshman campaign in 2021. - Coastal Carolina Football

(DS#10 C) rSr/2025

C Willie Lampkin, North Carolina
News Source: Coastal Carolina Football
Share/Comment: Here

Previous 15 Notes

|Back to Page One|

Next 15 Notes

Warning: Undefined array key "TeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 56

Warning: Undefined array key "DSTeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 57

North Carolina Football Videos

Buy Draft Scout Weekly

** Draft Scout Data **
(Everything Online PLUS)

Support Draft Scout

The Database Engine for NFLDraftScout.com, Draft Scout is being repurposed...Support the Future Development of ScoutNation.com...

Draft Scout Archives

** 2010-2022 Draft Scout Archives **
(Yearly Player Data Exports, Prospect Lists & More)

Draft Scout Future

100% Dedicated and Never Done

80% Innovated

45% Hidden

35% Built

2025 CFB/2025-2029 NFL Draft Scout

2024 CFB/2024-2028 NFL Draft Scout

2023 CFB/2024-2027 NFL Draft Scout

NFL Draft Scout History

2022 Draft Scout

Draft Scout by Conference

2023 Draft Scout Offense

2023 Draft Scout Defense

2022 Draft Scout Offense

2022 Draft Scout Defense

North Carolina Football Videos

Buy Draft Scout Weekly

Support Draft Scout

Draft Scout Archives

Draft Scout Future

Synergization

Did You Know?

Hidden Designs

Future Development