The North Carolina Tar Heels (6-4, 3-3) make the trip up to Alumni Stadium for a rare matchup against your Boston College Eagles (5-5, 2-4). Mack Brown’s team is riding a three game winning streak against UVA, FSU, and Wake. UNC just became bowl eligible for the sixth straight season. Carolina has really struggled to end the season strong in the past several years, so BC will need to capitalize on any lack of focus.
When UNC Has the Ball
The UNC offense is built entirely around star running back Omarion Hampton. The junior is coming off a 244 yard on 35 carries performance in the win against Wake. He’s second in the country in rushing (1422), has eight consecutive 100 yard games, and has 15 total touchdowns. The 2023 second team All-American is a big 220-pounds who runs hard and through defenders.
Jacolby Criswell is the trigger man here after a long journey and only transferring in this off season. He assumed the role a couple of games after Carolina’s starting quarterback went down with injury. He’s been a solid gunslinger, throwing for 2000 yards and 12 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions. He’s shown more mobility in recent weeks and will have ample opportunity as teams key in on Hampton. They haven’t thrown it much the past few weeks, under 40 times in the past two, but Criswell’s big play target is JJ Jones. The 6-2 senior receiver leads the team with 528 yards and 5 scores. Hampton has the most receptions on the team with 31, but a Jones and three others have over 20 catches.
Bottom line, they’re going to run. This is one of five Power 4 teams that average over 200 passing and rushing yards per game and one of just two teams with a 100 yard rusher in every game this season (Boise State). Guard Willie Lampkin is the highest graded guard in the country.
When BC Has the Ball
The Tar Heel defense has shown vast improvements in the past few weeks, largely due to the return of edge rusher Kaimon Rucker. They’ve only allowed 60.5 rushing yards and 16.5 points in the past four games since he came back, a 100 yard and 16 point improvement from the games prior. The fifth year senior Rucker is the catalyst here.
UNC’s Kaimon Rucker had 3.5 sacks last week vs. UVa but this move was most impressive rep of game. @_kruck75_ (6011v, 266v, 33 1/8 arms) will get pigeonholed as ‘tweener but @seniorbowl thinks he actually has cool body type for pass rusher (low to… https://t.co/3H4dLa9tLJ pic.twitter.com/Q6aakeYbIO
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 30, 2024
Critically, they’ve excelled at rushing opposing passers and improving in their missed tackle rate. UNC has 34 sacks on the season, fifth most in the country. Rucker now has 22 for his career, and is one of three Tar Heels who have recorded 3 or more sacks in a single game this season. Beau Atkinson and Jahvaree Ritzie have 6.5 sacks each. Atkinson leads the defense with 10 tackles for loss and Ritzie returned an interception for a score. Linebacker Power Echols leads the team with 64 tackles and also has a pick six. He’s solid against the run, a sure-tackler, and has solid coverage abilities.
However, this is still a defense that surrendered 70 points to James Madison. It’s the pass defense that Grayson James can try and exploit. They are allowing 235 yards/per game passing and 8 yards per pass — not a sieve but below average. Alijah Huzzie and Marcus Allen are still solid corners with ample experience. Huzzie has 8 pass breakups to Allen’s 4. A 2023 All-ACC Honorable Mention player has allowed only 20 receptions on 46 targets. The defense has 8 interceptions, 3 of which were returned for touchdowns
On Special Teams
Nate McCollum is tied for 6th in kickoff returns (26.9 yards), which is best in the conference. Kicker Noah Burnette is 14/19 on field goals this year after missing just once last season. His long is from 52 in the season opener and is his career long.