CHAPEL HILL - This time a year ago, Dajaun Drennon stood on the sidelines during fall camp watching, waiting, wondering and hoping.

He broke his foot in the late spring, and after being given the full go-ahead by his doctors, aggravated it again, forcing him to don a red jersey in practice for injure players, and aside from riding a stationary bike, the defensive end did little else.

This month, in his last time through fall camp as a Tar Heel, the 6-4, 245-pound senior from Clemontown, NJ, is healthy, happy and excited.

“It’s been great. It’s totally different,” he said. “Now, I’m more in tune with what’s going on, I can actually run through the reps with the guys. It’s not as much just watching film, I can see myself making the plays.”

Drennon started all 25 games he played during his first two seasons, but never got it going last season. He wasn’t the only defensive end to miss action. Tomon Fox, a true freshman who saw considerable action the first two games because Drennon was out, was lost for the season on that second contest, a victory at Illinois.

And Tyler Powell, an experienced player both inside and on the edge along the line, hit some speed bumps along the way, as well. Now, however, all are healthy and the defensive ends are about as deep as they’ve been in some time in Chapel Hill, something that was missed last fall.

“I wouldn’t say losing us was a big hit because we did have guys like Malik Carney that was rushing the passer, Mikey Bart was getting to the passer,” Drennon said. “But we’ve just expanded our depth of players that are able to get to the passer.”

Drennon said this is the most depth they’ve had along the entire defensive line since he’s been at UNC, that conceivably 15-16 players can be trusted in a game situation.

“When anybody needs a breather, we have guys we can flip in and we don’t have to worry about that person might not be in the right spot,” he said. “Everybody is capable of doing the right things and being in the right place.”

As for himself personally, those goals, really that mission, is intertwined with what the team needs, which is what he wants.

“I’m hoping to show people I can get to the quarterback, I can be a great pass rusher, I can get TFLs (tackles for loss), make plays in the backfield and lead my team to victories,” Drennon said.

Drennon was on an impressive trajectory prior to the injury, so if he’s picked up from where he was before breaking his foot and then some, he and that position group could turn in a terrific season.