We knew it was coming, it was just a matter of time. Fed was wise to go ahead and make this public, because letting it dangle into August camp would have been too disingenuous and not fair to Mitch or the backups. Fed avoided any of that by making it official.
Now, I expect Mitch to have a really big season. He's so much more mature now than he was two years ago, is smarter about the game, it goes slower for him, he's said many times, and he is ready. Ready to perform, ready to lead, and ready to explode.
The real question now becomes who will be Mitch's primary backup. That will be an important battle in August and as of now is wide open. Redshirt sophomore Caleb Henderson takes the first snaps with the second team, but redshirt freshman Nathan Elliott, who arrived last summer, is pushing him and may well pass Henderson. Elliott is smaller and is lefthanded, but he's drawn rave reviews and some believe he has a tenacity that will serve him well in the battle.
But Henderson is big and strong, can run well, and has an arm. He will get every chance to win the No. 2 job, but it won't come easy.
As for incoming freshman Chazz Surratt, the deal all along was that he would redshirt, so don't expect that to change unless there are injuries above him, Henderson and or Elliott really struggle, or Surratt is so good they have to put him in the mix. Or a combination of these things.
Unfortunately, the early schedule won't give the backup much of an opportunity at getting some needed snaps. Last fall, UNC had comfort with Mitch behind Marquise Williams because he had some solid experience and had experienced success. That's not going to be the case for a while this coming season.
So, a reason keeping the JMU game (3rd game on the schedule) and moving out the Citadel game in November - assuming UNC is going to get rid of one of its two games versus an FCS team - is to get the backup some solid snaps in the third week, assuming the Tar Heels handle the Dukes with ease.
Now, I expect Mitch to have a really big season. He's so much more mature now than he was two years ago, is smarter about the game, it goes slower for him, he's said many times, and he is ready. Ready to perform, ready to lead, and ready to explode.
The real question now becomes who will be Mitch's primary backup. That will be an important battle in August and as of now is wide open. Redshirt sophomore Caleb Henderson takes the first snaps with the second team, but redshirt freshman Nathan Elliott, who arrived last summer, is pushing him and may well pass Henderson. Elliott is smaller and is lefthanded, but he's drawn rave reviews and some believe he has a tenacity that will serve him well in the battle.
But Henderson is big and strong, can run well, and has an arm. He will get every chance to win the No. 2 job, but it won't come easy.
As for incoming freshman Chazz Surratt, the deal all along was that he would redshirt, so don't expect that to change unless there are injuries above him, Henderson and or Elliott really struggle, or Surratt is so good they have to put him in the mix. Or a combination of these things.
Unfortunately, the early schedule won't give the backup much of an opportunity at getting some needed snaps. Last fall, UNC had comfort with Mitch behind Marquise Williams because he had some solid experience and had experienced success. That's not going to be the case for a while this coming season.
So, a reason keeping the JMU game (3rd game on the schedule) and moving out the Citadel game in November - assuming UNC is going to get rid of one of its two games versus an FCS team - is to get the backup some solid snaps in the third week, assuming the Tar Heels handle the Dukes with ease.
