North Carolina's first-team defense has nine regular starters returning and a combined 213 career starts.
The second-team defense has a combined six career starts, all by one player (linebacker Zach Brown).
That imbalance in experience is why UNC coach Butch Davis made an effort in training camp to give the younger players the bulk of the repetitions in scrimmages.
"Part of this training camp has been about these players and getting them more experience," Davis said.
Given the uncertainty created by the NCAA investigation into the program, and UNC's own investigation for academic fraud, a number of backups could be pressed into game-duty on Saturday against Louisiana State in the season-opener.
UNC did not release a depth chart on Monday but based on the preseason depth chart from the media guide, the second team consists of five sophomores, four juniors, one senior and one redshirt freshman. Brown, a junior, started six games in 2009.
Safety Jonathan Smith is the only senior on the second team. The first team features six seniors, five of which have been starting since their freshman season.
Davis was pleased with how his younger players performed in training camp.
"We've got a lot of young kids that are inexperienced but we think that they've got talent," Davis said.
Senior defensive Marvin Austin, who has been at the center of the NCAA investigation for improper contact with an agent, has been practicing with the second team. Unless he's cleared by the NCAA before Saturday, it's unlikely he will play against LSU.
In Davis' opening remarks on Monday he indicated UNC would not jeopardize the investigation or put itself in a position to have to later forfeit games for using an ineligible player.
"I'd like for this to be perfectly clear: there is no one single game that is more important, winning, than the character and integrity of this university and this football program," Davis said.
| 1st team | 2nd team | |||
| DE | 94 Mike McAdoo, jr. | 0 | 98 Donte Paige-Moss, so. | 0 |
| DT | 90 Quinton Coples, jr. | 1 | 78 Jordan Nix, jr. | 0 |
| DT | 91 Tydreke Powell, jr. | 4 | 97 Jared McAdoo, fr. | 0 |
| DE | 42 Robert Quinn, jr. | 25 | 55 Linwan Euwell, jr. | 0 |
| Will | 52 Quan Sturdivant, sr. | 31 | 47 Zach Brown, jr. | 6 |
| Mike | 48 Kevin Reddick, so. | 7 | 41 Shane Mularkey, so. | 0 |
| Sam | 54 Bruce Carter, sr. | 33 | 57 Dion Guy, so. | 0 |
| CB | 12 Charles Brown, sr. | 22 | 7 Mywan Jackson, so. | 0 |
| CB | 16 Kendric Burney, sr. | 38 | 37 LeCount Fantroy, jr. | 0 |
| SS | 21 Da'Norris Searcy, sr. | 14 | 28 Jonathan Smith, sr. | 0 |
| FS | 27 Deunta Williams, sr. | 38 | 25 Matt Merletti, jr. | 0 |
| Career starts | 213 | 6 | ||
Comments
Humm Some decent news.
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 15:28 — unc098Humm
Some decent news.
this is a great piece
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 15:25 — izzykareemI too had not thought about the implications of a swath of the UNC-CH defense removed (if it turns out to be oh so joy joy correct). This piece really puts into perspective the cliff-dive of experience going from first to second team. We all knew it would be "bad" if all these draft picks weren't playing, but the potential for failure is just staggering. The vaunted D (and deservedly) would appear overnight like a team trying to rebuild.
Lil Izzy
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 16:44 — Heels20Not only is your praying for the downfall of the Heels downright pitiful, but you're also advertising your lack of awareness of how much talent is on this second team. You're right, there is little experience. There's also little depth. But guys like Zack Brown, Mywon Jackson and Donte Paige-Moss made significant contributions last season. There will most likely be players who get kicked off this team, but it won't be the whole defense. Guys that step in will be prepared, and the drop-off in talent will not be nearly as considerable as some of you pathetic Wolfpackers are hoping.
"...but you're also
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 19:10 — TDiddyt"...but you're also advertising your lack of awareness of how much talent is on this second team. "
Just as you did regarding State's depth. Now you have something in common with izzy
Still
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 21:23 — Heels20A week later, you continue to misinterpret my comment. I said that if you consider "depth" as having capable talent at the back-up positions, then State's secondary does not have depth. Do you dispute that?
Bluecat/TDitty
Wed, 09/01/2010 - 00:25 — gvillegatrNever replys back to a direct question asked to him. He just fades out waiting for another (what he thinks/ interprets is a) BS post to attack.
He's like a hippopatomis that holds his breath for hours only to come up for a breath and then back down again. AmaZing really.
Agree
Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:43 — Heels20TDittyt is knowledgable until he has to answer a specific, rational question. He can memorize 1000 statistics, but it doesn't mean a thing if he can't explain why they're important.
somebody get me a PT gig at the ACCNow ...
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 13:14 — gvillegatrlol. You got a prime gig, here, at ACCNow, JPG. I want in on the action, no matter the deadlines ....
I also understand there is a "RUMOR" going around the only fellas missing the LSWHo game will be Brown, Burney, Austin and Little.
Man, I hope this is true.
too bad it wasn't five
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 16:13 — JPDOhioToo bad for you guys that Yates isn't on the list too. That could help offset the losses of the players who make positive contributions.
Rumors
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 15:45 — mad_maxNot saying that the rumor you are referring to won't end up being fact, but I can't remember any other story that I've ever followed that had so many new rumors popping up every day. It's really frustrating trying to decide which rumors to believe. As far as Burney and Brown are concerned, I've also heard the rumor from several outlets that both of these players have been or will be kicked off of the team. Of course, reports (also rumors, since practices are closed to the public) are saying that both players have been at practices.
No offense
Wed, 09/01/2010 - 00:13 — gvillegatrBut most of the rumors wolf pack fans hear come from their own pay sites. But, yes, your point is duly noted.
Hope it's true
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 15:25 — Heels20As much as I would hate to lose Burney and Brown, Mywon Jackson is a very good DB. Our D-line is still very good also. I just hope they can get this stuff cleaned up by Saturday so we can know for sure.
Confirmation
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 15:20 — SurferYep, I can confirm that "rumor".
Yup
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 15:24 — Heels20Quinn just went on record saying that he was tutored by the person in question, but is not involved in the academic misconduct.
Read that on...
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 16:41 — UNC1998DTH... I've also heard there's only 4 that are going to miss the LSU game. I just think Austin, who was the centerpiece of the first part of this... will miss the game, too. I agree Jackson is a very good DB. I think Jordan Nix can play, too. I'm not going to Atlanta, so I guess I'll just be tuning in to who walks out there on the first series of the game. Regardless, that 2nd team didn't look too bad as talent goes. At least to me anyway.
RQ
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 20:09 — SurferHeard that too and one was not RQ. It will probably be a wait and see thing.
Agreed
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 16:49 — Heels20Our second team D is still pretty solid. As max said, we never know how reliable the rumors are, but if these are indeed true, we might still have a shot in this game. Michael McAdoo and Donte Paige-Moss are both capable back-ups in the case that Coples is moved to the interior. Mywon Jackson is just about as good as Brown and Burney. Fantroy will be a downgrade, but won't take us down. As far as Little goes, he will be missed, but Pianalto and Highsmith are both possession guys who can get it done. If our O-line can protect long enough to allow Boyd to get open deep, our offense may not hurt at all. Time will tell.