Walk Ons Earn Scholarships

North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora revealed after Wednesday's practice that several UNC contributors have been granted scholarships for the 2013 season.

Specifically, the Tar Heels have granted full rides for football to starting punter Thomas Hibbard, starting place kicker Thomas Moore, starting long snapper Mack Lloyd, as well as contributors on defense including starting linebacker Jeff Schoettmer and backup safety Dominique Green.

Lloyd, a Cary (N.C.) native who attended Green Hope High School is a senior, while Hibbard and Moore are both juniors. Hibbard attended Butler High in Matthews, where he won a state championship, while Moore is a local who attended East Chapel Hill High.

Moore is replacing longtime UNC starting kicker Casey Barth, though back in 2011 he got a chance to experience being Carolina's starter when Barth missed the season with an injury.

Moore himself has been working back to full strength, and he appears healthy heading into the season, as Fedora alluded to.

"It's awesome. He (Moore) is 100 percent. So I'm fired up. Just like my won-loss record on this season. I haven't lost yet," Fedora joked.

A third junior, tight end Eric Albright, has also been awarded a scholarship. He's a native of Raleigh who attended Cardinal Gibbons.

Schoettmer is a sophomore from Dallas who arrived at UNC last year and earned immediate playing time a season ago as a walk-on true freshman.

Another sophomore, defensive back Ryan Mangum, has also gone on scholarship for 2013.

The former Raleigh (N.C.) Leesville Road standout has followed a similar path as his older brother Pete Mangum, who walked on at UNC a few years ago and ultimately wound up on scholarship.

Green, a native of Laurinburg (N.C.) who played at Scotland County High, transferred to UNC in the spring and immediately made his presence felt in the deep secondary.

"I know Tommy Hibbard, our starting punter is (now on scholarship)," said Fedora Wednesday afternoon. "I think Thomas Moore, Mack Lloyd, those guy, our three starting specialists. I know those guys.

"(Jeff) Schoettmer yeah (he's also now on scholarship), because he's starting for us on defense right now," Fedora continued.

Fedora elaborated more on Schoettmer, a guy who was penciled in after last season as a potential starter to help replace Kevin Reddick, but was injured in the spring and couldn't participate.

But this summer he's been outstanding, moving at least temporarily over the injured Nathan Staub, as well as fellow freshman Dan Mastromatteo, to be the projected starter for the Tar Heels at middle linebacker heading into next week's season opener at South Carolina.

"He (Schoettmer) has had a good camp," said Fedora. "First of all, coming off the injury he had in the spring he's put on some weight. He's really bought into being a dang good linebacker. And I'm expecting him to have a good year. He's had a really good camp for us. I'm really pleased with what Schoettmer's done so far this season."

"He (Schoettmer) was injured in the spring. We had him kind of penciled in (as a possible replacement for Reddick) because of what he did last year. He put on some weight. He got stronger. We thought he was going to be really good and he's showed us that in camp."

The additions of these seven players on scholarship for the Tar Heels puts the program full at 80 scholarships heading into the new season, which begins next Thursday night in Columbia against South Carolina.