UNC Football Notebook

Ryan Switzer was asked quite a few questions this past week at the annual ACC Kickoff about returning punts, which makes sense given he’s two shy of owning the all-time NCAA record for punts returned for touchdowns.

At one point, the subject of him not being on the kickoff receiving team was broached, an experience Switzer has had just once on his UNC career even though he’s requested more opportunities from head coach Larry Fedora.

There is a difference in the two, actually a really big difference, Switzer notes. And while the physical aspect is something many fans and media point to, suggesting Switzer’s size (5-10, 185) is more suited for one than the other because of the sheer force kick returners face as opposed to punt returners.

There’s more to it, however. The returns themselves are unique. Kickoff returns are about running north while punt returns are more of an east-west thing, and that fits right into the senior’s naturally-gifted wheelhouse.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I feel like I’m the quickest man in college football. What I’m able to do in a short area is why I do what I can on the field. So, it bodes well for me to be able to do that on punt returns.”

Of course, zig-zagging in full east-west mode isn’t always productive, something the West Virginia native has learned on several occasions.

“Obviously, too much east and west, there’s fast guys everywhere, and eventually they just swarm and contain you. You do have to use some of it so you can get north-south eventually,” he said.

Switzer has 7 career punt returns for touchdowns and is one shy of the NCAA record. He had 5 as a freshman, none as a sophomore and two last season.

An Old Soul In A Young Body

Des Lawrence is light years removed from an incident that occurred during fall camp in 2014. He was one of several Tar Heels involved in a hazing incident that drew negative attention to the program giving it another black eye at a time when it hadn’t yet climbed out from under the clouds of an elongated NCAA investigation that has finally moved on.

But part of growing up is making mistakes and choosing to learn from those mistakes. In the senior cornerback’s case, he’s definitely learned from those bad decisions turning them into positives for himself and others around him.

“I’ve settled down, I’ve calmed down,” Lawrence said. “I already have an old soul, that’s what my mom tells me. I chilled with my grandpa more than my friends when I was growing up, so I have that in me. But it’s really kicked in where I’ve learned to keep myself out of situations that don’t look so promising. And I think it’s helped me help younger guys, as well, just kind of giving them a guide of how life is going to be.

“Just taking care of myself is the main thing, making sure no one can get a story out of me.”

That’s growth and maturity, something that not only serves Lawrence off the field, but he and the Tar Heels on it, too.

A DB’s Perspective On Mitch

Lawrence has a unique perspective of junior Mitch Trubsky’s talents, having defended against him for parts of the last nearly four years. So, who better to ask about Carolina’s new starting QB than one of the team’s best DBs who knows his game very well?

“I would define Mitch as someone who is a student of the game,” Lawrence said. “Regardless of what type of day he's had, the day he's had before, he's going to come out and put forth his best foot.

“He’s a guy on defense you love to see. I love to see him in practice because I know there's not too many quarterbacks in the nation that study the game more than him, are on his level of skill, has his skill level. He can put the ball virtually anywhere. For me being a DB, on Saturdays I may not see that as often as I do in practice.”

And, as for how capable Trubisky is? Lawrence doesn’t hold back. “Mitch is a great player,” he said. “I can't wait for him to show the world what he's been doing in practice for the last three to four years.”

UGa Has Heels' Attention

Georgia may have a new man at its helm who has never been a head coach before, but that isn’t affecting how the Tar Heels prepare for the Bulldogs or their respect for their opponents from the SEC in the season opener Sept. 3 in Atlanta.

UGa is a program that has competed favorably in the demanding SEC for decades with a fan base that expects championships, or at least contention each season. So, while Fedora and his staff are building a game plan, some things are a must when going against an opponent of the long-running caliber as Georgia.

“I can tell you, our football team and myself, our staff, we're all extremely excited playing in that Chick-Fil-A Classic,” the Carolina coach said. “(Forty) days away, you get to play the University of Georgia. Everybody knows the tradition of their team. All they do is win at least 10 games a year. In the recruiting rankings they're in the top 10 every single year.

“They've got great players in every single position, whether it's Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, whoever they have in their stable, I promise you they're going to have a dang good running back back there.”

Fedora continued, this time touching on an uncertain QB situation in Athens. “They don't know who the quarterback is going to be, but we know it's going to be a good one,” he said. “Kirby Smart is a hell of a football coach. He's put together a great staff. They have the support that they need to be successful. We're excited about it. For us, we look at it, it's kind of a measuring stick, where are we in our program at this point. At the same time we know that a game like that doesn't make or break our season. It really has nothing to do with the goals that we have for our season. We want to be prepared. We're going to go to that neutral site of Atlanta and we're going to give it our best.

Switzer: Football Is Dangerous Regardless

The Big 12 commissioner mentioned last week about the possibility of the kickoff being eliminated from college football. All teams would begin possessions at their own 25 or 30 yards lines after opponents’ scores. Switzer was posed a couple of questions about this, to which to no surprise he gave a cogent and thoughtful reply.

“I think the game would take a big hit if that were to happen,” he said. “Football's a dangerous game regardless of what play it is. We know as players you put yourself out there risking injury every time you step out on the field. “Yeah, kickoff and kickoff return is tough 'cause guys are running full speed, but there's also plenty of other times guys are running full speed. I've gotten hit across the middle, got hit catching punts where I didn't think I was going to get up. “That's ultimately not my call. But to see kickoffs taken out of the game, I don't feel would be positive for the game of football.”