The 2021 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels were led by head coach Mack Brown, who was in the third season of his second stint at North Carolina and his 13th overall season at the university. The team played their home games at Kenan Stadium.
Personnel
Coaching staff North Carolina Tar Heels coaches Mack Brown Head coach 3rd of second stint, 13th overall Phil Longo Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach 3rd John Lilly Tight end coach 2nd Stacy Searels Offensive line coach 3rd Lonnie Galloway Assistant head coach/Wide receivers coach3rd Larry Porter Running backs coach/Assistant Special teams coordinator 1st Jay Bateman Defensive coordinator/Safeties coach 3rd Tommy Thigpen Associate Defensive coordinator/Inside linebackers coach 4th Tim Cross Defensive line coach 3rd Jovan Dewitt Special teams coordinator/Outside linebackers coach 2nd Dre Bly Cornerbacks coach 3rd Brian Hess Strength and conditioning 3rd Natrone Means Offensive analyst 1st Sparky Woods Senior advisor to head coach 3rd Darrell Moody Senior advisor to head coach 3rd Ken Browning Senior advisor to head coach 3rdReference:
Roster 2021 North Carolina Tar Heels Football RosterQuarterback 6 Jacolby Criswell – sophomore (6'1, 225) 7 Sam Howell – junior (6'1, 225) 10 Drake Maye – freshman (6'5, 220) 14 Jefferson Boaz – freshman (6'7, 245)
Running back 4 Caleb Hood – freshman (5'11, 230) 19 Ty Chandler – graduate (6'0, 210) 21 Elijah Green – freshman (5'11, 205) 24 British Brooks – senior (5'11, 210) 26 D.J. Jones – sophomore (5'10, 205) 33 Kamarro Edmonds – freshman (5'11, 230)
Wide receiver 2 Gavin Blackwell – freshman (5'11, 185) 3 Antoine Green – senior (6'2, 210) 5 J.J. Jones – freshman (6'2, 200) 8 Kobe Paysour – freshman (6'1, 180) 11 Josh Downs – sophomore (5'10, 180) 12 Stephen Gosnell – sophomore (6'2, 210) 13 Tylee Craft – sophomore (6'4, 205) 15 Beau Corrales – senior (6'3, 210) 83 Justin Olson – sophomore (6'2, 200)
Placekicker 17 Grayson Atkins – graduate (5'9, 210) 95 Jonathan Kim – junior (6'0, 210) 98 Noah Burnette – freshman (5'9, 175)
Punter 91 Ben Kiernan – junior (6'0, 215) 92 Cole Maynard — Freshman (6'2, 165) Tight end 18 Bryson Nesbit – freshman (6'6, 245) 81 John Copenhaver – freshman (6'3, 245) 82 Kendall Karr – freshman (6'3, 245) 84 Garrett Walston – graduate (6'4, 245) 88 Kamari Morales – sophomore (6'2, 250)
Offensive lineman 51 Wyatt Tunall – sophomore (6'5, 305) 52 Jonathan Adorno – sophomore (6'4, 315) 54 Chance Carroll – freshman (6'2, 300) 57 Cayden Baker – sophomore (6'5, 305) 61 Diego Pounds – freshman (6'7, 330) 63 Ed Montilus – junior (6'4, 315) 66 Eli Sutton – freshman (6'7, 305) 64 Malik McGowan – freshman (6'3, 330) 67 Trey Zimmerman – freshman (6'5, 280) 68 Brian Anderson – senior (6'2, 305) 69 Quiron Johnson – graduate (6'2, 315) 72 Asim Richards – junior (6'4, 325) 73 Marcus McKethan – senior (6'7, 335) 74 Jordan Tucker – senior (6'7, 340) 75 Joshua Ezeudu – junior (6'4, 320) 76 William Barnes – junior (6'4, 325) 77 Wisdom Asaboro – sophomore (6'8, 315) 79 Hunter Shope – sophomore (6'1, 290)
Defensive lineman 5 Jahvaree Ritzie – freshman (6'5, 285) 6 Keeshawn Silver – freshman (6'6, 290) 8 Myles Murphy – sophomore (6'4, 305) 41 Kedrick Bingley-Jones – freshman (6'4, 280) 51 Raymond Vohasek – senior (6'3, 300) 52 Jahlil Taylor – junior (5'11, 310) 56 Tomari Fox – junior (6'2, 290) 98 Kevin Hester Jr. – sophomore (6'4, 305) Linebacker 7 Eugene Asante – junior (6'1, 220) 10 Desmond Evans – sophomore (6'6, 265) 11 Raneiria "Rara" Dillworth – freshman (6'1, 205) 12 Tomon Fox – graduate (6'3, 265) 17 Chris Collins – junior (6'4, 255) 19 Ethan West – freshman (6'3, 255) 23 Power Echols – freshman (5'11, 220) 25 Kaimon Rucker – sophomore (6'1, 265) 26 Trevion Stevenson ― Freshman (6'4, 240) 33 Cedric Gray – sophomore (6'1, 225) 34 Gabe Stephens – freshman (6'4, 225) 42 Tyrone Hopper – graduate (6'4, 245) 44 Jeremiah Gemmel – senior (6'1, 225)
Defensive back 0 Ja'Qurious Conley – sophomore (6'1, 210) 1 Kyler McMichael – junior (6'0, 210) 2 Don Chapman – junior (6'1, 195) 3 Cameron Roseman-Sinclair – freshman (5'11, 210) 4 Trey Morrison – senior (5'9, 190) 9 Cam'Ron Kelly – junior (6'1, 210) 13 Obi Egbuna – junior (5'10, 190) 14 Dontae Balfour – freshman (6'2, 180) 15 Ladaeson DeAndre Hollins – junior (6'2, 210) 16 DeAndre Boykins – freshman (5'11, 210) 18 Christopher Holliday – freshman (6'3, 215) 20 Tony Grimes – sophomore (6'1, 190) 21 Dontavius Nash – freshman (6'1, 180) 27 Giovanni Biggers – junior (6'1, 195) 28 Tymir Brown – freshman (5'10, 180) 29 Storm Duck – sophomore (6'0, 205)
Long snappers 61 Drew Little – junior (5'11, 220) 62 Spencer Triplett – freshman (6'3, 235)
Offseason
Coaching changes Larry Porter was hired in January for his second stint as the Tar Heels' running backs coach, replacing Robert Gillespie, who departed for the same position at Alabama. Porter's first tenure at UNC came under previous head coach Larry Fedora from 2014–2016. He was also given the title of Assistant Special teams coordinator. Former Tar Heel and NFL running back Natrone Means was also hired in the offseason as an offensive analyst.
Departures
NFL draft
The following Tar Heels were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
2 35 Javonte Williams RB Denver Broncos 3 78 Chazz Surratt LB Minnesota Vikings 3 82 Dyami Brown WR Washington Football Team 4 107 Michael Carter RB New York Jets 6 221 Dazz Newsome WR Chicago Bears
Transfers The Tar Heels lost sixteen players from the 2020 season.
Name No. Pos. Height Weight Hometown Year New school Bryson Richardson #6 DB 6’0 203 Lawrenceville, GA Sophomore UMass Myles Wolfolk #11 DB 5’11 205 Largo, MD Senior† Bowie State Billy Ross #56 OL 6’5 315 Huntington, WV Junior Marshall DJ Ford #16 S 6’3 208 Ashland, AL Senior† ECU Bryce Watts #2 DB 6’0 180 Toms River, NJ Junior UMass Xach Gill #90 DT 6’5 290 Wake Forest, NC Junior Temple Jace Ruder #10 QB 6’3 228 Norton, KS Sophomore North Texas Noah Ruggles #97 PK 6’2 195 Odessa, FL Junior Ohio State Triston Miller #71 OL 6'5 290 Charlotte, NC Freshman Arizona State Lancine Turay #58 DT 6’6 270 Newark, NJ Sophomore Temple Rontavius Groves #4 WR 5’11 180 Nashville, TN Junior Texas State Patrice Rene #5 DB 6’2 205 Ottawa, ON Senior† Rutgers Ray Rose #9 WR 6’1 215 Belmont, NC Freshman ECU Khadry Jackson #8 LB 6’1 230 Orlando, FL Junior Georgia Southern Welton Spottsville #14 DB 6’0 220 Havelock, NC Sophomore Kennesaw State AJ Beatty #54 OL 6’5 300 Pittsburgh, PA Freshman Albany
†Denotes player who was listed as a senior by UNC, and chose to transfer elsewhere for the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Additions
Incoming transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. school Ty Chandler #19 RB 6'0 205 Graduate Nashville, TN Tennessee
Recruiting class North Carolina signed 19 players in the 2021 class. The Tar Heels' class finished 14th in the 247Sports football recruiting rankings, 16th in the Rivals rankings, and 7th in the ESPN recruiting rankings. Eleven signees were ranked in the ESPN 300 top prospect list.
Schedule
Game summaries
At Virginia Tech
Statistics UNCVT First downs 18 17 Total yards 354 296 Rushing yards 146 127 Passing yards 208 169 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 25:03 34:57
Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 17/32, 208 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Ty Chandler 10 carries, 66 yards Receiving Josh Downs 8 receptions, 123 yards, TDVirginia Tech Passing Braxton Burmeister 12/19, 169 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jalen Holston 13 carries, 49 yards Receiving Raheem Blackshear 3 receptions, 66 yards
Georgia State
Statistics GSUUNC First downs 16 28 Total yards 271 607 Rushing yards 181 201 Passing yards 90 406 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 30:17 29:43
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Cornelious Brown IV 12/26, 68 yards, INT Rushing Darren Grainger 5 carries, 56 yards Receiving Jamari Thrash 2 receptions, 18 yardsNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 21/29, 352 yards, 3 TD Rushing Sam Howell 11 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD Receiving Antoine Green 3 receptions, 117 yards, TD
Virginia
Statistics UVAUNC First downs 27 35 Total yards 577 699 Rushing yards 24 392 Passing yards 553 307 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:41 27:19
Team Category Player StatisticsVirginia Passing Brennan Armstrong 39/54, 554 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Jacob Rodriguez 3 carries, 14 yards Receiving Dontayvion Wicks 7 receptions, 183 yards, TDNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 14/21, 307 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Ty Chandler 20 carries, 198 yards, 2 TD Receiving Josh Downs 8 receptions, 203 yards, 2 TD
At Georgia Tech
Statistics UNCGT First downs 18 19 Total yards 369 394 Rushing yards 63 261 Passing yards 306 133 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 30:05 29:55
Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 25/39, 306 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ty Chandler 17 carries, 48 yards Receiving Emery Simmons 3 receptions, 110 yardsGeorgia Tech Passing Jeff Sims 10/13, 112 yards, TD Rushing Jeff Sims 10 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD Receiving Malachi Carter 3 receptions, 48 yards, TD
Duke
Statistics DukeUNC First downs 15 21 Total yards 314 456 Rushing yards 130 135 Passing yards 184 321 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:18 32:42
Team Category Player StatisticsDuke Passing Gunnar Holmberg 17/24, 184 yards, TD, INT Rushing Mataeo Durant 19 carries, 114 yards Receiving Jalon Calhoun 6 receptions, 103 yards, TDNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 18/32, 321 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ty Chandler 12 carries, 53 yards, TD Receiving Josh Downs 8 receptions, 168 yards, TD
Florida State
Statistics FSUUNC First downs 22 27 Total yards 383 432 Rushing yards 238 229 Passing yards 145 203 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 29:48 30:12
Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida State Passing Jordan Travis 11/13, 145 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jordan Travis 14 carries, 121 yards, 2 TD Receiving Keyshawn Helton 3 receptions, 71 yardsNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 17/32, 203 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Sam Howell 11 carries, 108 yards Receiving Josh Downs 9 receptions, 121 yards, TD
Miami
Statistics MiamiUNC First downs 30 23 Total yards 421 382 Rushing yards 157 228 Passing yards 264 154 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 26:09 33:51
Team Category Player StatisticsMiami Passing Tyler Van Dyke 20/45, 264 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Jaylan Knighton 17 carries, 92 yards, 2 TD Receiving Keyshawn Smith 7 receptions, 73 yardsNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 17/26, 154 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ty Chandler 18 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD Receiving Josh Downs 11 receptions, 96 yards, TD
At No. 11 Notre Dame
Statistics UNCND First downs 28 28 Total yards 564 523 Rushing yards 223 293 Passing yards 341 230 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:15 29:45
Team Category Player StatisticsUNC Passing Sam Howell 24/31, 341 yards, TD, INT Rushing Sam Howell 18 carries, 101 yards, TD Receiving Josh Downs 10 receptions, 142 yardsNotre Dame Passing Jack Coan 16/24, 213 yards, TD Rushing Kyren Williams 22 carries, 199 yards, TD Receiving Avery Davis 5 receptions, 51 yards, TD
No. 9 Wake Forest
Statistics WakeUNC First downs 35 31 Total yards 615 546 Rushing yards 217 330 Passing yards 398 216 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:27 33:33
Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 25/51, 398 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Rushing Justice Ellison 13 carries, 81 yards Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 7 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TDNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 16/26, 216 yards, TD Rushing Ty Chandler 22 carries, 213 yards, 4 TD Receiving Antoine Green 6 receptions, 83 yards, TD
At No. 25 Pittsburgh
Statistics UNC First downs 16 25 Total yards 384 441 Rushing yards 88 95 Passing yards 296 346 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:11 25:49