UNC football’s top 23 players for 2023 season, 30 days before kickoff
North Carolina football will kick off its 2023 season in 30 days against South Carolina in a College GameDay matchup at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Led by head coach Mack Brown and quarterback Drake Maye – the reigning ACC Player of the Year – the Tar Heels will take aim at a return trip to Charlotte in December for the ACC Championship. UNC posted a 9-5 record last season.
In addition to Maye, UNC has several key returners and some high-profile transfers. Here’s a look at 23 players to watch in 2023.
William Barnes, offensive line
The senior started in 13 games last season, spending most of his time on the right side of the offensive line.
Giovanni Biggers, defensive back
The graduate student started all 14 games last season. He had 69 tackles and two pass breakups.
DeAndre Boykins, defensive back
Boykins had 67 tackles and seven pass breakups in 14 games last season. He’ll be a key piece on the backend of UNC’s defense in 2023.
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British Brooks, running back
The sixth-year player was projected to be UNC’s top back in 2022 before a season-ending injury in the preseason. Brooks averaged 9.5 yards per carry in 2021.
Armani Chatman, defensive back
Coming off a shoulder injury, Chatman has been working his way back after transferring from Virginia Tech. He had 89 tackles and 20 pass breakups in 49 games with the Hokies.
Power Echols, linebacker
Echols had 103 tackles and started all 14 games last season. The team captain ranked fifth among Power Five players with 70 solo tackles.
Amari Gainer, edge rusher
Gainer arrives at UNC with hopes of enhancing its pressure up front. He appeared in 46 games and left Florida State as the program’s active leading tackler with 210 tackles.
Corey Gaynor, offensive line
A seventh-year senior and team captain, Gaynor has 42 starts in 55 games. He started all 14 games at center last season, allowing two sacks in 1,050 snaps.
Cedric Gray, linebacker
An All-American and the senior leader, Gray racked up 145 tackles in a breakout 2022 season, ranking him first in the ACC and third in the nation.
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Elijah Green, running back
UNC’s top running back last season, Green logged 558 yards and a team-best eight rushing touchdowns on 131 carries. The Tar Heels have a loaded backfield, but Green has proved his worth.
Omarion Hampton, running back
The sophomore had his moments as a freshman with 401 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 88 carries.
Alijah Huzzie, cornerback
An FCS All-American at East Tennessee State in 2022, Huzzie has the ability to boost a secondary in need of production. His 22 pass breakups led all FCS players in 2022.
Ben Kiernan, punter
An All-ACC performer last season, Kiernan finished the year with a 46.8 average on 48 punts. He had 18 punts land inside the 20-yard line and 14 of his punts were booted 50 or more yards.
Antavious Lane, defensive back
“Stick” is a Georgia State transfer. He set a program record with 11 career interceptions in his first two seasons. He’ll be a factor in the Heels’ secondary.
Drake Maye, quarterback
In his first year at the reins, Maye was among the top players in the nation. He was just the ninth FBS quarterback since 2010 to have 3,500 passing yards, 35 TDs, 500 rushing yards and five rushing TDs in a season.
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Nate McCollum, wide receiver
The Georgia Tech transfer will aim to help fill the voids left by Josh Downs and Antoine Green. McCollum had 60 catches for 655 yards and three touchdowns in 2022.
Ed Montilus, offensive line
Montilus decided to stick around in Chapel Hill for one more season. He started all 14 games at left guard with more than 1,000 snaps last season.
Myles Murphy, defensive tackle
The senior was an All-ACC year in 2021. Murphy has 67 tackles, including 10 ½ tackles for loss and five sacks, in the last two seasons. He started 12 of 14 games in 2022.
Bryson Nesbit, tight end
The junior was third on the team in catches (35) and receiving yards (507) last season.
Kobe Paysour, wide receiver
Paysour was fourth on the team with 29 catches and four touchdowns in 2022. He had a knack for being productive when UNC had receivers sidelined.
Spencer Rolland, offensive line
After making the move from Harvard, Rolland started at right tackle in 13 games last season. He was on the field for 975 snaps.
Kaimon Rucker, edge rusher
Rucker was second on the team with seven tackles for loss, finishing his junior year with eight pressures and 3 ½ sacks.
Devontez Walker, wide receiver
The Kent State transfer is getting a lot of preseason buzz. Walker had 58 catches for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football: Tar Heels top players entering 2023 season
