THI TV: Players Tuesday | Chatman, Copenhaver, Maye & Gray
CHAPEL HILL – Tuesdays in game week means several North Carolina football players are made available to the media, and this week the focus was more about what happened in the loss to Virginia, how the team is overcoming it, and this week’s matchup at Georgia Tech.
Tar Heels Armani Chatman, John Copenhaver, Drake Maye, and Cedric Gray fielded questions from the media about these things. Below are videos of their Q&A sessions as well as some notes about what they discussed:
Armani Chatman, Gr. CB
*Chatman started 25 games and played 1,946 snaps at Virginia Tech before transferring to UNC last winter, and then he dealt with overcoming an injury for much of the spring and early summer. He spoke about finally being comfortable with the defense and on the team of late, which has meshed with his quality of play.
*Chatman spoke about his interception in the end zone against UVA and strip of Mike Hollins at the goal line.
*As well as playing cornerback, Chatman has cross-trained at star and even at safety. He said he gets in work everywhere “except d-line.” Joking asked if he could play some 4-technique, Chatman laughed and said, “no way.”
*In addition, Chatman spoke about getting balls thrown his way because rarely do teams throw at Marcus Allen; helping the younger Allen and Tayon Holloway, and about how the swag at UNC is much better than at Virginia Tech. He even said players that have always been at Carolina tend to take it for granted, but he doesn’t, nor do the guys who transfer in.
John Copenhaver, Jr. TE
*Copenhaver broke his hand during the South Carolina game and considered not playing the following week versus App State, but did. He wore a huge club on it the next two games, and still wears some padding, but he continued playing, and it’s affecting him less and less.
*Interestingly, Copenhaver said he had already broken the hand when he made an amazing TD catch in the end zone against the Gamecocks.
*Copenhaver spoke a lot about the mood of the team this week, getting up for GT, and last year’s game, in which the 9-1 Heels lost at home.
*He is from the Atlanta area, and was actually HS teammates with former GT QB Jordan Yates, whose brother is former UNC & NFL QB T.J. Yates. Copenhaver says he will have 12 family and friends at the game. He was recruited by Tech as well.
*Also, Copenhaver had some interesting things to say about the development of Bryson Nesbit, playing for Freddie Kitchens, and more.
Drake Maye, RS Soph. QB
*Maye was asked a lot about the mood of the team a few days after the upset loss to UVA. He was also asked about this week being a test for the team’s/program’s standard and culture.
*Nate McCollum dropped four passes (officially) Saturday night, and a little while after the game, he texted Maye manning up, and they told each other they had one another’s backs.
*Maye is always tough on himself when grading his performances, even after excellent games. He always finds a few things to pick at. But he had more to note from the other night, which he talked about. He also said he uses PFF, not so much for the grades, but the breakdowns.
*Georgia Tech has a different defensive coordinator, so Maye discussed some of what the Yellow Jackets do on that side of the ball, and some of the challenges about facing them.
*In addition, he talked about how sometimes people and teams simply have off nights, about watching the game before going to bed no matter how late it is, and how the team my play more freely now that the pressure of having an unbeaten season has been removed.
Cedric Gray, Sr. LB
*There was some noticeable frustration on the field and sideline late in Saturday’s game, which Gray acknowledged, and even took some responsibility for, but also said it’s another opportunity to learn and grow.
*Gray says there was a hangover from the loss to UVA, but the team has moved on from it and is now focused on the Yellow Jackets. That said, it was tough Sunday, and maybe even Monday. It was a painful loss, and something he doesn’t want to experience again.
*Yet, even with the surprising loss, Gray says “all of our goals are ahead of us,” putting greater importance on the HT game this weekend.
*The culture, chemistry, standard and leadership of the program has been stronger and gotten more so over the last eight months, and Gray acknowledges it will be tested this week.
*In addition, Gray spoke about needing good eye discipline on GT QB Haynes King, how Armani Chatman helps the Heels, and how he processed the loss hours afterward.