Published Jul 31, 2020
3 Breakout Returning Starters For This Season?
THI Staff
Tar Heel Illustrated

North Carolina returns plenty of starters from last year, but some are much better known than others because they broke out a year ago. So, among the returning starters, which three are primed to break out on a big-time level?

We asked out staff and here are the answers:



Advertisement

Jacob Turner

Tomon Fox, LB - The senior is set for a breakout final season for the Tar Heels and will earn second-team All-ACC honors.

Beau Corrales, WR - Another senior, Corrales will step out of the shadow of Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome and earn second-team all-conference honors.

Jeremiah Gemmel, LB - One of the Heels’ most consistent performers last season, Gemmel will shine alongside Chazz Surrat, becoming the most feared and respected linebacker duos in the nation.



John Gwaltney

Storm Duck, CB - Duck got thrown into the fire due to injuries as a true freshman, which only makes him better going into his sophomore campaign.

Jeremiah Gemmel, LB - Gemmel will not be talked about as much as Chazz Surratt at linebacker but he had a solid season in 2019 and could have breakout season in 2020.

Javonte Williams, RB - Williams has been the #2 in Carolina's 1-2 punch on the ground, but while he does not get the attention Michael Carter gets he still has the potential for a breakout season in 2020.



Jarrod Hardy

Josh Ezeudu, OL - The big offensive lineman started playing well toward the end of last year and will get even better as time goes on.

Beau Corrales, WR - The big-play wideout for the Tar Heels will have a good season, he has the tools to be an NFL prospect.

Trey Morrison, DB - The defensive backfield will have a lot of talented players and ready to take his game to the next level is Morrison.



Deana King

Javonte Williams, RB - Williams is used to not being the attention guy and I believe that makes him in the player he is. He is a tough runner and has a chance to be in the hunt for All-ACC at running back.

Marcus McKethan, OL - McKethan has been a great surprise for the Tar Heels. He got a lot of experience last season and will be an important cog on the offensive front. He has All-ACC potential.

Jeremiah Gemmel, LB - Gemmel and Chazz Surratt give the Tar Heels a great linebacking duo. Gemmel had a good year for the Tar Heels. If he can improve on his angles, reads, and tackling, he will be a candidate for All-ACC.



Kevin Roy

Storm Duck, CB - Duck is oozing with talent and has the confidence to go with it. All the talent in the secondary is going to push him to be even better as a sophomore.

Javonte Williams, RB - Williams has the ability to be a 1st round pick in the NFL draft and he will bust loose this fall.

Dyami Brown, WR - You can argue Brown broke out last year, but it could be a special year in Chapel Hill with Howell, Brown, Newsome and company.


Andrew Jones

Marcus McKethan, OL – This very large young man is smart, talented and has a great work ethic, so you know he’s probably improved a ton from last season, and he was pretty good then. McKethan has a possible future at the next level, and we will see a lot of that this season.

Jordan Tucker, OL – Like McKethan, Tucker has all of the attributes to be an outstanding offense linemen. And like McKethan, he has a chance to play at the next level, and we will see that from him most of the time this season.

Garrett Walston, TE – The Tar Heels need to use their tight ends more and Sam Howell will show an area of his game that has improved are the shorter tosses, especially over the middle, so expect Walston to get more balls thrown his way and the former 4-star prospect will produce much better numbers than last season.