GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: DEs Malik Carney, Tomon Fox, and Tyler Powell need to keep the pressure on Virginia QB Bryce Perkins. Perkins managed to lead the Cavaliers to a win over Miami despite throwing three interceptions, but he had no picks in the win over Duke last week. He is a dual threat who has completed 62.6 percent of his passes and has also rushed for 463 yards and five touchdowns.
DRAFT SLANT
–DE Malik Carney could make a big difference for the defense now that he has served out the suspension levied against him for selling school-issued shoes. Despite appearing in only four games, he leads the Tar Heels in sacks with 5.5 and has two other tackles for loss among his 20 stops.
ROSTER REPORT:
–WR Antoine Green left the Syracuse game with an apparent leg injury in the third quarter. “You feel for the kid for the amount of work he has put in and also for the team because he is a contributor,” coach Larry Fedora said. “Also our guys understand that it’s part of the game and somebody’s got to step up and make some plays.” A freshman, Greene has four catches for 45 yards in five appearances.
–DE Malik Carney served the final outing of his three-game suspension in the loss to Syracuse. If North Carolina eventually schedules a 12th game to make up for the cancellation of the UCF game, he would have to sit out for a fourth game.
–QB Cade Fortin, the true freshman who was injured in making his first collegiate start against Virginia Tech on Oct. 13, did not play at Syracuse. Coach Larry Fedora gave no update on his status.
–QB Jace Ruder, a true freshman, becomes North Carolina’s No. 2 quarterback behind Nathan Elliott if Fortin is not available. Sophomore Chazz Surratt is out for the season after making just one appearance.
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