Tar Heels Begin Mayo Bowl Prep
CHAPEL HILL – Exactly two weeks before facing West Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, North Carolina took to the practice field Wednesday morning for the first time in preparation for the Mountaineers.
The Tar Heels face West Virginia in Charlotte on December 27. When the Heels run out onto the field before kickoff, it will have been 32 days since they last played, which was a disappointing 39-20 loss at NC State. It was a dismal performance for a team that started the season 6-0 and ranked No. 10 in the nation.
The Heels (8-4, 4-4 ACC), however, dropped four of their last six games, including four of their last five ACC contests, and now must get ready for a game without some of their best players. Yet, the early vibe is a bit of re-juicing, if you will.
“I think everybody is just excited to have one more opportunity to play for Carolina football and step out on the field again and truly represent ourselves in the best way,” junior linebacker Power Echols said. “I think we’re excited. We’re ready to go.”
West Virginia (8-4, 6-3 Big XII) is also dealing with players opting out because they are preparing for the NFL Draft or have entered the transfer portal. But UNC’s sting is more significant.
Quarterback Drake Maye, his snapper, veteran center Corey Gaynor, and wide receiver Tez Walker are all getting ready for the next level. In addition, UNC won’t have any scholarship tight ends available. Kamari Morales has already announced his transfer to Boston College, and Bryson Nesbit and John Copenhaver are both out with injuries. True freshmen Julien Randolph was announced as out for the season before it even began.
“It’s something we did before, without tight ends,” junior receiver J.J. Jones said. “So, it’s something we’re going to incorporate with Deems (May) coming in. He’s been a heck of a heck of a guy in that tight end room. It’s also exciting to see him play, he’s also from Charlotte.”
May is a redshirt freshman walk-on whose father, also Deems May, played at UNC and eight years in the NFL. Deems Jr. played 11 snaps this season catching a pass versus Campbell.
On defense, leading tackler and First-Team All-ACC linebacker Cedric Gray is off to the NFL, so Power Echols has slid over from the Mike linebacker spot to the Will, which has more outside linebacker duties. He will also make a lot of the calls. Alongside him is true freshman Amare Campbell.
Campbell saw action on defense in seven games this season, getting 70 total snaps. Of them, 28 came in the win over FCS member Campbell, and 14 came in a home win over Syracuse. Echols has high confidence the Manassas, VA, native is ready.
“Ready to go right now,” Echols replied, when asked how ready Campbell is. “If we had to play today, he’d be straight.”
Overall, this game isn’t so much about redemption from the fiasco in Charlotte two years ago in a 38-21 loss to South Carlina, but that is within the recesses of some player’s minds. More so, however, they say it’s about getting better and closing the season strong.
The Heels don’t need reminding they dropped the last four games a year ago or about this year’s collapse. There is enough to motivate them through the two weeks as it is.
“We all remember that game, especially for me it was tough,” Jones said. “Because it just seemed like we didn’t want to be there as a unit, and we don’t want that to happen again. And we told everybody on the team this year, ‘If you do not want to play in that game, do not come.’”
A Few Notes
*WR Kobe Paysour is back at practice and is doing everything. He hasn’t yet been fully cleared to play in the game, that will later be determined. But he is doing everything, and J.J. Jones spoke today as if Paysour is playing in the bowl game.
*Willie Lampkin will start at center even though he hasn’t had any snaps there this year. He was the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2022 at Coastal Carolina while playing center all season.
*Seven receivers practiced Wednesday: Jones, Paysour, Nate McCollum, Gavin Blackwell, Christian Hamilton, Paul Billups, and Chris Culliver.
*Four sunning backs practiced Wednesday: Omarion Hampton, British Brooks, Caleb Hood, and Jordan Louie.
*Jack/OLB Kaimon Rucker said he is leaning on using his Covid year and returning next season. More on this in a piece about him.