August 28, 2012

John Gwaltney, Jr.
TarHeelIllustrated.com Staff

Lighting the fuse: Elon receiver channels raw ability into fast-rising stock - Burlington Times-News
Type his name, the one his parents and his hometown always have known him by, into an Internet search engine and up pops results for NFL prospect databases and profiles. Click on a link, say a 2013 mock draft or position ratings for college football's top talents, and there he is again, ranked highly among the receivers who wield plenty of name recognition. Speaking of known entities, scroll down the schools now listed on the screen.

Identity crisis: Tar Heels look internally as Elon opener looms - Burlington Times-News
There's no sense in first-year North Carolina coach Larry Fedora spending too much time trying to figure out details about Elon University's football team this week. Even though the Tar Heels open the season Saturday afternoon against Elon, there's a self-evaluation taking place that trumps anything Fedora and his staff might learn about Elon.

Next! A quick look at the teams facing N.C. State, UNC, Duke, Wake Forest and ECU - Charlotte Observer
A quick look at Saturday's matchups.

Elon to be the first to see new offense - Daily Tar Heel
North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora is new in town, so this time no one should be offended that he doesn't know exactly where Elon is geographically.

Fedora, Heels to put system to test - Durham Herald-Sun
It may be a totally new setting, but the usual emotions have started to bubble up as Larry Fedora prepares for his first game as North Carolina's head coach.

North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker Kevin Reddick sticks with team, embraces change - Fayetteville Observer
Kevin Reddick could have walked away from the North Carolina football program last March when NCAA sanctions stripped away the two rewards most college players covet most. UNC's middle linebacker had already made one difficult decision in January by opting not to enter the NFL draft a year early. But no one could have blamed Reddick for taking another way out when the NCAA ruled the Tar Heels couldn't compete for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship or a bowl bid during his senior season.

University of North Carolina football preview - Fayetteville Observer
A quick look at the University of North Carolina's football team with players to watch, Sammy Batten's take and the schedule.

First-year football coach Larry Fedora still getting a feel for North Carolina Tar Heels - Fayetteville Observer
Larry Fedora has learned all he can about the North Carolina Tar Heels through watching practice and video. But now the first-year head coach is ready to find out how the Tar Heels react under game pressure. The initial opportunity for Fedora to do that comes Saturday, when the Tar Heels kick off the 2012 season against in-state Football Championship Subdivision foe Elon at Kenan Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

North Carolina's Dexter Strickland cleared to play basketball - Fayetteville Observer
North Carolina senior Dexter Strickland has been cleared to play less than eight months after tearing the ACL in his right knee. He suffered the injury against Virginia Tech on Jan. 19, had surgery to repair the ACL and a damaged meniscus on Feb. 9 and was cleared to run at the beginning of June.

Renner making strides in learning new offense - Winston-Salem Journal (AP)
Bryn Renner sounds ready to lead North Carolina's no-huddle, spread offense. He regrouped from bumpy spring practices by studying film, arranging extra workouts with his receivers and getting in better shape before training camp. Now, with Saturday's opener against Elon approaching, Renner seems confident that he understands what new coach Larry Fedora wants to do.