When you add a Romar Morris to an A.J. Blue, does the sum equal a Giovani Bernard?
With the record-breaking tailback beginning to make waves for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, North Carolina’s offense hopes the efforts of Morris and Blue can provide a ground attack as potent as the threat Bernard posed last season.
But perhaps that’s not a fair question. After all, Blue and Morris both played crucial roles alongside Bernard last season.
Morris is a redshirt sophomore who spent his freshman season returning punts, blocking kicks and picking up yardage in all sorts of ways.
Blue is a redshirt senior who recently turned 24. Injuries and other adversity have prolonged his stay at UNC.
This season he and his teammates hope his experience will anchor the otherwise youthful backfield.
Freshmen runners Khris Francis and T.J. Logan are falling into the supporting roles Morris and Blue occupied last season, and the older backs have taken it upon themselves to make sure the freshman duo will be prepared to step up when the time comes.
It’s been clear since the spring that the task of filling Bernard’s shoes will fall to Morris and Blue.
“(Bernard) was a great player, he was a game-breaker, but Blue and Romar have been there, they’ve had plenty of time themselves, and I trust those guys to get the job done,” senior offensive lineman James Hurst said.
