Stewart: Facing Jackson Means Big Opportunity

CHAPEL HILL – Lamar Jackson poses the kind of challenge most football teams and players never experience. He’s a generational kind of talent, some say.

UNC defensive coordinator John Papuchis replied when asked if he’d ever faced anyone remotely similar to Jackson in overall talent of running and throwing the football by saying, “maybe Vince Young.”

Young finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2006 and led Texas to the national championship that season.

Jackson won the Heisman last year and had Louisville in contention for a playoff spot well into November. This weekend, he and the 17th-ranked Cardinals visit Kenan Stadium, and the Tar Heels’ best current NFL prospect, All-America candidate M.J. Stewart, is looking at this as an opportunity for some Heels to make some national noise.

“With him having that superstar status, it’s an opportunity for us, if we make plays in this game it’s going to be on ESPN,” the senior cornerback said. “So the world’s going to be watching. It’s a chance for people to get their name out there and make some plays.”

Stewart is a potential first-round NFL draft pick for next spring, so individually sees Jackson coming into Kenan as more of a personal challenge.

“Oh yeah, this is a big week,” he said, smiling. “Not saying every week is not a big week, but this is one you circle on the calendar. It’s a chance, like I said, on the national stage for me to make some plays to push my (stock).”

Stewart and the Tar Heels will get their chance Saturday at noon.