Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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38 SEPT. 24, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: NORTH CAROLINA BY TODD D. BURLAGE NORTH CAROLINA RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE North Carolina's leading rusher from 2021, Ty Chandler, is gone, and so is former Tar Heels All- ACC quarterback Sam Howell, the team's second- leading rusher from last season. When those two standout players moved on, they took with them from last season 24 of the team's 30 rushing touchdowns. And with those production voids already need- ing attention, North Carolina received more bad news during training camp when graduate student tailback British Brooks was lost for the season with a lower body injury. Brooks averaged 9.5 yards per carry last season and scored 4 touchdowns. But all is not lost for the Tar Heels. True freshman tailback Omarion Hampton has emerged as the team's rushing leader with 228 yards on 6.0 yards per carry and 5 touchdowns through three games. In a still fluid by-committee approach, four differ- ent Tar Heels have combined for 9 rushing touch- downs, and six rushers average at least 23.0 yards per game. For Notre Dame, its run stoppage was expected to be a team strength with an experienced and tal- ented defensive front. Yet, heading into the Califor- nia game last weekend, preseason promise for the Irish wasn't lining up with on-field performance. In fact, it's hard to celebrate much on a run-stop unit that ranked 113th nationally after allowing 195.5 yards per game against Ohio State and Marshall. With 14 total stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack through two games, senior defensive tackle How- ard Cross III was a bright spot. Senior linebacker Jack Kiser has also played well in spots and was leading the team with 15 tackles after two games. Advantage: North Carolina NORTH CAROLINA PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE The first and most obvious question for North Carolina heading into this season was who would take over for the decorated three-year starter Howell at quarterback. Howell set North Carolina records with 10,283 passing yards and 92 touch- downs, and he was a fifth-round draft pick of the Washington Commanders in April. The answer came in fall camp when Drake Maye was named the starter. The redshirt freshman delivered in big-time fashion during a 3-0 start for the Tar Heels. The early season opposition wasn't the stiffest for UNC, but Maye still completed 74.2 percent of his throws for 930 yards with 11 touch- downs and 1 interception in those three games. Heading into the team's bye Sept. 17, Maye's 310.0 passing yards per game ranked 14th nation- ally and his 11 touchdowns led the country. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Maye is built like a pro- totypical passing quarterback. Yet, he's athletic and ranks second on the team with 146 rushing yards. Junior wide receiver Josh Downs — a 2022 Pre- season All-ACC first-team selection — is expected to lead the North Carolina receivers this season. He recorded 9 receptions for 78 yards with 2 touchdowns in the season opener, but a lower body injury sidelined the All-America candidate the next two games. However, with a bye week before Notre Dame, Downs is expected to return for this game. During Downs' two-game absence, Maye spread things around to a group of six different Tar Heels receivers who average at least 30 yards a game. Three receivers have scored at least 2 touchdowns and seven have least 7 receptions. Redshirt fresh- man Kobe Paysour has paced the group with 14 catches for 172 yards and 2 scores. For Notre Dame, graduate student cornerback TaRiq Bracy has been one of the few reliable mem- bers on an Irish defense that ranked only 101st in passing efficiency performance into last weekend. Through its first two games, Notre Dame hadn't forced a turnover. Its 4 sacks tied for 64th na- tionally, and it had only one quarterback hurry. Improving its pass rush remains key for the Irish defense in this category, and this game provides a great chance to make it happen. North Carolina gave up a whopping 49 sacks (3.77 per game) last season. Advantage: North Carolina On PaPer All-America candidate Josh Downs, a junior wide receiver, caught 9 passes for 78 yards and 2 touch- downs in North Carolina's season opener, but missed the next two games due to a lower-body injury. PHOTO COURTESY UNC ATHLETICS