The 2007 edition Tar Heels finished the year ranked 35th in the nation in total defense; a drastic improvement from a year ago and a pleasant surprise for Butch Davis' young squad. In 2008, with twelve significantly experienced returnees, the Heels look to make the jump to a top 20 defensive squad.
While Chuck Pagano has left for the NFL, Davis' new hire Everett Withers has seen plenty of success from the 4-3 scheme. His stint at Texas with Mack Brown from 1998-2000, as well the stint with the NFL's Titans from 2001-2006, have truly proven Withers' worth as a coach.
With Everett Withers at the helm this still young but now tremendously experienced unit, looks to propel the Heels into the top of 2008's NCAA defensive rankings.
Defensive Line
Let's start up front with the foundation of any defensively sound team, the d-line. At the interior spots the Heels have both talent and depth. Marvin Austin showed flashes justifying his status as an elite defensive tackle last season; registering 26 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 4 sacks in 2007.
Aleric Mullins and Tydreke Powell will help fill out the rotation and should both play as advertised; meaning very well. In Mullins, Powell and Austin the Heels can expect to get a serious surge from the interior line, helping to push the pocket back and disrupt the quarterback.
Another major player in this defensive tackle rotation is redshirt junior Cam Thomas. The 6-3, 325 pound junior is a pure run stuffing tackle who will keep his linebackers clean. Thomas will be one of the key cogs in UNC moving up in the rankings by lowering rushing numbers.
Defensive end is another story as the only known commodity heading into 2007 is redshirt junior EJ Wilson. Wilson showed inklings of brilliance in 2007, as he was a johnny on the spot defender piling up 5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 9.5 tackles for losses. Wilson, once a reserve fullback and tight end has settled nicely into the defensive end spot and looks to push for an All-ACC season.
Auditioning for the role of Wilson's bookend will be the highly touted trio Darrius Massenburg, Darius Powell and Greg Elleby. Currently the three sophomores' combined production is a pedestrian 18 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. They'll all three need to blossom with more field time in order to rotate fresh bodies at the end position and spell Wilson.
Overall the defensive line is a solid unit, especially at the interior. Should one of the younger ends emerge as the clear dominating force needed opposite Wilson the Heels should cause problems for opposing quarterbacks and running backs.
Linebackers
The loss of Durrell Mapp to graduation and Wesley Flagg to a dismissal have left the Heels thin in terms of linebacking depth with game experience. Only Quan Sturdivant, Bruce Carter, Chase Rice and Mark Paschal have seen true, in game experience.
It'll be up to this group to lead the youthful, inexperienced linebacking corp for the Heels. The cerebral leader Rice, the bull doggedly reliable Paschal and the two athletically gifted, fast learning sophomores Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter.
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