With the 2012 class set for the North Carolina football team, 2013 class off to a decent start and with spring football coming up in the middle of April there is one question that this team will have to deal with. Head coach Larry Fedora has his quarterback in place with Bryn Renner, who last year racked up over 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns. The back field is also in good hands with tailback Giovani Bernard going for 1,253 yards and 13 TDs on the ground as well as 362 yards and a score through the air. Bernard was the third leading wide out, both in catches, 45, and yards, while the top one, Dwight Jones, next year will be playing on Sundays at the next level. Meaning that if Carolina is going to have a good year the wide out core will need to step it up.
Jones last season piled up 85 receptions for 1,196 and 12 touchdowns, making the Renner/Jones connection one of the best in the conference, if not the country. However the next five receivers, excluding Bernard, combined for 96 catches, 1,492 and a total of 12 touchdowns. Erik Highsmith was the second best at the position, getting 726 yds and five TDs, and he has to be the top candidate to step into Jones’ shoes as the “go to” guy for the upcoming season. On the other hand Jheranie Boyd could be another player that becomes a star under the new system that coach Fedora will implement at UNC.
With the wide open offense that we should see next season at Kenan Stadium many wide receivers could have a chance to become big contributors. But it is still a good feeling to know that the team is in good shape at the quarterback and running back positions, making it easier for the wide outs to be able to work without as much pressure on them. As it is with most times a new head coach comes into the program after the end of the season spring practice, which should begin on April 14, is going to be very interesting as it will be the first indication on how the changes to the schemes are working out.