Senior defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer has been a mainstay on the Tar Heel front the past few seasons, and this year he is being looked upon to provide leadership and top-notch performance for the 2007 Tar Heels.

When he thinks about it sometimes, Balmer doesn't really know where the last three years have gone. It's hard to believe that freshman from Weldon, a small town in northeastern North Carolina, that arrived on the UNC campus back in the summer of 2004 is already a senior.

"Yes it has; it definitely has (gone by fast). We were talking about that on the way over here (after practice). We were just talking about freshman year; we were in Carmichael dorm, and then the last couple of years we've been in Craige dorm. It's just been wild ride. You never want it to end, but it ends quicker than you know it," Balmer said.

After playing in nine games at defensive end as a true freshman back in 2004, Balmer wound up playing in all 11 contests in 2005, including making three starts at end.

Prior to his junior season, Balmer moved inside to defensive tackle, where in 2006 he played in ten games and started each of the final eight. The new UNC coaching staff has kept Balmer inside during the spring and through training camp, and he is currently working out in practice with the first unit at tackle.

"I'm working pretty much at tackle; that's where I'm making my home at," he said.

While Balmer understands that last season's UNC defense didn't exactly invoke fear in opposing teams, he believes that the Tar Heels are going to be much better this season than the national media is expecting them to be. He, for one, likes being cast in the underdog role, and believes the team simply has to go out and prove people wrong instead of being upset about their lack of respect.

"I think we're a lot better than what they're predicting us as a unit in the ACC. I think we were ranked like 10th, maybe 11th. I think we've all got some improvement to make as a team," he said. "I'm excited; I'm excited about this coaching staff; I'm excited about this team. A lot of people are writing us off, but I've always been an underdog, and that's where I like to be. Every dog has his day. There's a lot of teams and a lot of people out there not giving us the respect that we think we deserve. We're not going to talk about it' we're just going to be about it."

Balmer has seen a tremendous change around the UNC program over the last year, as he sees his teammates improving and getting used to the intense tempo of practice, which will better help them be prepared for game environments. As a senior, he is working to make sure that the Tar Heels take advantage of every opportunity to get better, because he cannot afford to wait for the team to get good in a couple of years.

"Looking from the spring to now, it's like night and day. We're getting used to the tempo of practice a lot better. The heat hasn't bothered us as much. It's like night and day around here," he said. "There's no days off, because we're not trying to be 3-9. Nobody is going to accept that. There's big expectations, and we're trying to surpass those expectations, because I know we're capable of that."

From a strategic standpoint, Balmer spoke about how this year's Tar Heel defense is moving at a much faster pace than before, and more tacklers are getting to the ball on individual plays. With game week rapidly approaching, he expects the team to continue doing what it's doing in preparation for the Dukes, and just because the program won't technically be in 'training camp mode' any longer, he doesn't anticipate a letdown in intensity on the practice field.

"It's still going to be fast. We're still going to be expected to swarm, chase the ball, hustle around, fly around and make plays and have fun. The coaches won't accept anything less, and I think that's the only way we're going to be prepared for James Madison, is flying around and practicing like we've been practicing."

Along with his fellow seniors, Balmer will have to play a critical leadership and communication role for the Tar Heels this season. While several of his teammates will be making their first career start under the lights at Kenan Stadium one week from today, Balmer will be making his 12th career start. More than anything else, he is ready to take the field with his teammates, who he has toiled with all summer, and take care of business together.

"I love these guys. I look at them as brothers, because I know they care about me, and I care about them," he said. "The football part is easy, because we spend so much time together off the field, it makes it easier to communicate and get along on the field when things aren't going as well. That role is easy, and plus, I've got guys like Hilee Taylor, Kyndraus Guy, and Durell Mapp to help me fill that (leadership) role."