Spring Practice Report: Criswell, Collins & More

CHAPEL HILL - Quarterback Jacolby Criswell and outside linebacker Chris Collins both met with the media via Zoom following North Carolina’s seventh practice of the spring Thursday morning.

While Collins is entering his fourth season at UNC after redshirting in 2019, Thursday was the first time Criswell has talked to the media since arriving in Chapel Hill in January 2020.

Among the topics discussed were the battle for the backup quarterback spot, younger players that have impressed, forcing more turnovers and much more.

Below are the full videos of Criswell and Collins’ press conferences along with some pulled notes and quotes from what they had to say:

*With Sam Howell being one of the top quarterbacks in college football, Criswell is fighting alongside true freshman Drake Maye for the backup quarterback position.

Criswell earned the No. 2 spot last season ahead of Jace Ruder, who ultimately transferred to North Texas in February, but will have to earn it once again with now that Maye is on campus.

The Morrilton, AK, native played in six games last season, taking 44 snaps and completing three of four passes for 16 yards and one interception. Criswell also rushed for 26 yards on nine carries.

Seven practices in, Criswell says the competition is heating up.

“I'd say it's going really well right now,” Criswell said. “We're both competing hard at the quarterback position. Everyone wants to be the backup because you know you’ve got Sam Howell, he's obviously the starter.

“At the end of the day, it's a big question mark on who's the backup. So me, Drake and Jeff (Boaz), we're all just competing for that backup spot because we know, after he leaves, that person will probably be the next guy up for the upcoming season.”

What’s it like to compete against Maye?

“Drake’s a very hard worker, he pushes me every day, and we're basically in the same spot because I didn't have a spring ball last year, and so he's just not getting it…” Criswell said. “Me and Drake, we're just competing hard and we're just gonna keep going at it in the fall until they name someone.”

And how does Criswell mentally approach the daily competition for the backup spot?

“I’m just competing day by day,” Criswell said. “I’m not rushing anything. I know I'm a smart guy and, (Phil) Longo, he's helping the both of us. I come in about every single day, learn something new. If not, go back over something that I already know, just to see if there's anything that I'm missing.

“But overall, I'm just taking it day by day and just being who I am because I know what type of football player I am.”

*Having played and practiced behind Howell last season, Criswell knows the All-American quarterback better than most of his teammates.

So, what is Howell like as a mentor?

“Sam's all around a great guy,” Criswell said. “Just having him as a quarterback, the type of quarterback he is, a Heisman candidate, you want to soak up as much as possible before he leaves because you don't have much time with Sam Howell. Just knowing that I have that caliber of guy here with me and him doing the things he's doing right now, why not follow in his footsteps or even do more?

“Me and Drake, he’s helping both of us out, teaching us everything he knows. We're both just soaking it all up. It's unreal to have a quarterback here, but it’s just Sam Howell you know?”

*In Criswell’s eyes, are there any fellow underclassmen that have impressed so far this spring?

“I would say Stephen Gosnell, he’s really picking it up,” Criswell said. “I think he's playing more outside now, so I'm really excited for that because of his size and his speed.

“As well as Stephen, I'd say John Copenhaver is doing really well. He's becoming more of a blocking tight end because we never knew if he had the physical aspect of it, but now he's really showing it. So, he's definitely a guy to watch.

“And most of our younger linemen are doing really well. Jonathan Adorno, Cayden Baker, they're all doing really well. And as you know, Tony Grimes. Yeah, I don't have to say much about him.”

*After playing in four games and ultimately being redshirted during UNC Coach Mack Brown’s first year back in charge in 2019, Collins saw action in 11 games during his redshirt sophomore campaign last season, starting in four.

Collins played 239 snaps, the third most of any hybrid defensive end or outside linebacker, posting a career-high 13 tackles, three sacks, three tackles for loss, two pressures and one breakup.

So, in his own words, what is Collins’ role on this year’s defense?

“I feel like I'm very versatile,” Collins said. “Last year, I started some games at SAM, which is kind of like our nickel position, just to stop the run. I also played some 4i, some four technique, I played some rush. So, wherever coach (Jay) Bateman needs me, I feel I can play.

“Just being a guy that knows the defense, I feel like I know the defense very well going into my third year on the defense. So, anywhere he needs me, I can play. Just being that versatile guy in this defense is very important.”

*UNC returns a ton of talent on defense and at the outside linebacker position in particular, with fifth-year seniors Tomon Fox and Tyrone Hopper taking advantage of their extra year of eligibility.

Add sophomores Des Evans and Kaimon Rucker to the mix, and this position group is one of the deepest on the team.

So, what’s the competition like between him and the other outside linebackers this spring?

“We just all come in and compete,” Collins said. “I love our position group because, like you said, there's a bunch of guys that can play, a bunch of guys that can run and tackle, cover, anything that coach Bateman needs.

“When you’ve got a bunch of guys like that in one room, it's competition every day. Whether we're in meetings, we’re in the weight room or on the field, the outside linebackers as a group, we love to compete. Honestly, I'm thankful for those guys for making me better.”

*Brown and Bateman both mentioned it during their respective press conferences on Wednesday morning, but forcing more turnovers on the defensive side of the ball is a big point of emphasis for this team going into next season.

How does Collins think this year’s defense can improve in that area?

“The biggest thing I feel like, when you look at people that cause turnovers, they have 11 guys running to the ball, non-stop” he said. “Today in the defensive meeting, coach Bateman had a discussion with us about loafs.

“If there’s 11 guys running to the ball, turnovers will take care of themselves. The first guy comes and tackles, the second guy comes and cleans up, pops the ball out. The first guy gets a tip, the second guy comes running and gets the pick. If you have 11 guys with unstoppable effort, turnovers are naturally gonna happen.”