Fall Camp: This, That & the Other

CHAPEL HILL – As we take another dip in the This, That, and the Other waters, the themes here center on the attitudes of two Tar Heels and another regarding who in his world refers to him as what.

North Carolina is into the second week of fall camp now, as the Heels prepare for their season-opener September 2 versus South Carolina in Charlotte. The storylines between now and game week will range from position group battles and personal players’ development, to some off-beat stuff, with many nuances tucked in between.

With that, here are the entries for this TTO:

Veteran center Corey Gaynor is one of the more interesting players on UNC’s roster. He doesn’t particularly like doing interviews with the media, in part because he doesn’t believe this is about him. He also just doesn’t care much for it.

But he agreed to speak to us in the spring and did following practice Friday, and he did a really good job. He is a football player to the core, a guy on the team you’d probably pick first to bunker down with in the trenches with if need be. And, he’s a pretty good football player.

With that, one of the things Gaynor often says references his service to UNC, the program, and his teammates. So, when asked a question about helping the younger offensive linemen develop needed trust from other guys on the o-line, but also quarterback Drake Maye, that they can protect him.

“That’s a great question,” Gaynor said. “I’m here to serve. A lot of people think different reasons why you play football and you come back when you’re as old as I am, (but) I want to pass on my knowledge and make sure that my teammates – my younger guys – are getting every resource possible out of me.

“Whether that’s extra film, if they want to lift, if they want to do some work after practice. Just picking my brain. They say greatness leaves footprints. Not saying I’m great, but I’m chasing it.”

Gaynor is in his seventh season of college football, with the first five coming at Miami. He had a redshirt season, plus the Covid year of 2020 he got back. And another season was cut short in September because of an injury, so the NCAA gave him that year back, too, which is why he is on the team. He will turn 25 on August 13.

Kobe Paysour is in his third season at Carolina, having gotten solid playing time last fall grabbing 29 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns. Most of his production (20 catches, three scores) came in the three games he filled in for Josh Downs. So, with Downs headed to the NFL, Paysour was a lock to move up and be “the guy” this fall.

Yet, UNC brought in two prolific receivers from the transfer portal: Tez Walker from Kent State (58 receptions, 921 yards, 11 TDs), and Nate McCollum from Georgia Tech (60 catches, 655 yards, 3 scores).

Human nature suggests that may have been difficult for Paysour, but he says otherwise. In fact, he has a very healthy perspective on this, and an accurate one, too.

“I seen it as a competitive thing, a competitive spirit,” he said. “Just like any offensive coach, they’re going to try to get somebody that’s better than you. You feel me? They’re going to try to recruit somebody that’s better than you.

“So, I just see it as a competitive spirit; I’m always going hard every day.”

Graduate safety Gio Biggers isn’t the first Tar Heel named Giovanni to play on the gridiron at Kenan Stadium, as a decade ago, speedster Giovanni Brevard scorched opposing defenses, and NC State’s punt coverage unit, for highlight-reel scores.

He usually went by “Giovanni,” but was okay being referred to as “Gio” as well. Biggers, however, says only four people call him by his full first name.

“Miss Sally, my mom, and my girlfriend, and that’s it,” Biggers said, listing those who refer to him as “Giovanni.”

Miss Sally is UNC Coach Mack Brown’s wife, Sally Brown. ALL of the players call her “Miss Sally.” Biggers’ mom doing so as well is no surprise. But his girlfriend? Does she do it mainly when she’s upset with him?

“I’ve never heard her call me ‘Gio,’” he said, smiling.