*No matter what the score is Saturday versus James Madison, don’t expect true freshman quarterback Chazz Surratt to get into the game unless either Mitch Trubisky or Nathan Elliott are injured. Surratt, who worked his way to the 3rd-string spot on the depth chart, made significant progress in August and continues to, but the staff has decided to keep him off the field this season, thus redshirting him, unless there is an injury above him.
*According to sources very close to the situation, the defensive staff remains a bit frustrated with junior LB Cayson Collins and his issues with certain schematic elements of what they want to employ. They love Collins’ natural gifts, but it just doesn’t click enough, which is why Ayden Bonilla has gotten a decent number of reps the first two games, and on Saturday at Illinois, true freshman Dominque Ross got on the field some before other second-teamers did. While Larry Fedora said Monday that Collins is the starter, he also qualified his remark by finishing with, “for now.” We believe the position is up for grabs and that Ross may get a heavier dose of reps Saturday versus James Madison to see more of what he can do.
*With Caleb Henderson having transferred a few weeks ago, there have been a lot of questions about the staff courting a QB for the class of 2017. While no new offers have gone out since Henderson left for Maryland, THI has learned that the staff has contacted some highly regarded kids to generate more lines of communication, a couple of whom have committed elsewhere. This isn’t to suggest UNC will bring in a QB in 2017, but the staff is much more open to the idea now than they were a month ago.
