Three freshmen shine in spring game

Mywan Jackson had it all planned out.

For his mother Terrie Green’s birthday on Saturday, he was going to give her two interceptions as his present.

He started the day by collecting a tipped pass off of the fingertips of Todd Harrelson, then out-jumped Harrelson for a second pick, this time in the end zone — and his goal was attained.

“I told her I was going to get two picks for her, and it played out how I wanted it to,” Jackson said.

Jackson’s play caught the eye of returning starting cornerback Kendric Burney, who has been through three previous spring games and started on the other side for the White team.

“Mywan Jackson had a phenomenal day,” Burney said. “That was unbelievable for a guy that had no game experience. For Mywan to go out there and play like that, that was the best thing I’ve seen in the spring, and it’s the best thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

But Jackson wasn’t the only player to make plays for the White team defense.

Michael McAdoo registered four sacks and an interception. That was hardly the only pressure on incumbent starting quarterback T.J. Yates as he struggled to get into any rhythm in the game.

McAdoo, unlike Jackson, did not enter the spring game expecting such a robust performance.

“It kind of shocked and surprised me,” McAdoo said. “But coach said hard work pays off, so I guess it paid off today.”

McAdoo figures to be fighting for the starting job at defensive end counter to returning first-team All-ACC defensive end Robert Quinn.

It is unclear how much of McAdoo’s success could be attributable to injuries along the offensive line, as the spring has been unkind to the unit.

Alan Pelc, Carl Gaskins and T.J. Leifheit all missed the game with injuries. Pelc and Gaskins project to start along the offensive line next season.

The Blue team’s offensive line featured a true freshman, a walk-on and three sophomores with a combined 11 starts between them.

“I told (McAdoo) that just because Robert Quinn is one of the top defensive ends in the nation doesn’t mean that you aren’t one of the top defensive ends in the nation,” defensive tackle Marvin Austin said. “Just go out there and work hard.”

The unit shut down a Blue team offense that featured six of the offense’s 10 returning starters, including Yates, running back Shaun Draughn, tight end Zack Pianalto and wide receiver Erik Highsmith. And they did this with five of the nine returning defensive starters on the Blue team.

The play of the freshman Jackson and junior McAdoo signals that even with an ACC-high 21 returning starters, UNC should be deeper this fall than it was last season.

“We got kids on the second team that would probably play significant time anywhere else in the country,” Burney said. “This spring we definitely developed a bond, but they’ve definitely developed confidence that they can play with anybody.”



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