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Besides Clemson, the UNC receiving core is probably the top group in the conference. With Greg Little at running back this season, junior wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, senior wide receiver ...

UNC Football Position Preview: Receivers and Tight Ends

by Matt Smith (Columnist)

7

943 reads

Preview/Prediction

July 24, 2008


Besides Clemson, the UNC receiving core is probably the top group in the conference.

With Greg Little at running back this season, junior wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, senior wide receiver Brandon Tate, and sophomore tight end Zach Pianalto will probably see less balls thrown their way, but hopefully they can still keep up the success the stars had last season.

 

WR Hakeem Nicks

2007 Statistics

74 Receptions

958 Receiving Yards, 12.9 YPC

Five Receiving TDs

I'm only 20, so I haven't had the opportunity to see many great receivers in person, but Nicks is one of the most physically dominating players I have ever witnessed in college.

Let's face it—Carolina hasn't had much of a running game while he's been on campus.  Yet through all of the double teams and constant coverage he saw last season, Nicks caught a UNC-record 74 passes and racked up almost 1,000 yards receiving.

The preseason All-ACC receiver will continue to be one of the best to ever play in Chapel Hill with the help of some run support this season.

I expect at least another 850-900 yard season, with six to seven touchdowns, and a First Team All-ACC selection at the end of the 2008 season.

 

WR Brandon Tate

2007 Statistics

25 Receptions

479 Receiving Yards, 19.2 YPC

Five Receiving TDs

Besides Nicks, Tate was the most productive wide receiver UNC had last season.

Tate is Carolina's only other preseason All-ACC selection, for the Specialist team, but he's no slouch at catching passes either, averaging a gaudy 19.2 YPC in 2007 while hauling in five touchdowns.

With most of the attention focused on Nicks, Tate thrived in the deep pass attacks Yates employed last season before his shoulder injury.

Look for Tate to score any way he can against opposing teams, whether it be from a kickoff, a punt, or the long ball.

 

TE Zack Pianalto

2007 Statistics

24 Receptions

204 Receiving Yards, 8.5 YPC

0 Receiving TDs

Pianalto was a pleasant surprise for the Heels last season, starting as a true freshman.

With a year of experience, Pianalto should understand the schemes offensive coordinator John Shoop wants to employ, helping him become both a better receiver and blocker.

Along with the wide receivers, Pianalto should benefit from an improved running game, hopefully seeing the ball thrown his way on some play action passes in the red zone.

 

That's it for the offense.  In the next positional breakdown, I examine the defensive end position and the youth Head Coach Butch Davis has brought in to strengthen it.

 

Offensive Line
Running Backs
Quarterbacks

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7 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. joe dirt 11 months ago

    We only have 2 WR's and one TE? We are in big trouble!

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  2. Chad Floyd 11 months ago

    You know, Nicks, Tate, and Pianalto don't really constitute a three-deep of any kind. Especially considering that Brooks Foster is every bit the player Tate is, Pianalto doesn't technically play TE, but rather H-Back (Richard Quinn, Ed Barham...those are your TE's).

    I'll let you do the research and discover the rest of the recievers for yourself.

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    • Matt Smith 11 months ago

      Thank you for contributing. I usually do three players for each piece. Now if you're done being an asshole and actually have something to say about any of the three players thats fine, if not move along.

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    • Matt Smith 11 months ago

      And just just because you call a TE by a different name, if you run a two tight end set its still a tight end. Pianalto will block and catch out the back field. He will be catching passes. If you would like to write an article on Foster go ahead, great guy, but I choose who I write about and you always have the option of making your own article.

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    • Samuel Smith 11 months ago

      http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/unc-m-footbl-mtt.html

      Zack Pianalto listed as Tight End not H Back!!!!! Boo Yah! Do your homework punk.

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  3. Samuel Smith 11 months ago

    http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/unc-m-footbl-mtt.html

    Zack Pianalto listed as Tight End not H Back!!!!! Boo Yah! Do your homework punk.

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