The North Carolina football team's linebacker core has a lot to look forward to in 2020. There is a combination of experienced talent and new additions that have the potential to bolster the front seven.
Returning to its linebacking core is redshirt senior Chazz Surratt, who had a breakout season in 2019. After beginning his UNC tenure as quarterback, Surratt transitioned to linebacker last season. Surratt led the team with 115 tackles, including 15 tackles-for-loss. He also finished with 6.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one interception, with his lone interception sealing North Carolina’s win against Duke.
Based on his on-field production, Surratt earned All-ACC first-team honors. He was the runner-up for the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award as well.
Surratt has high expectations this coming season. He was named to three preseason award watch lists, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Butkus Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. He was ranked by ESPN’s Mel Kiper as the No. 2 inside linebacker in the 2021 NFL Draft. With the lofty expectations and promising first year at linebacker, Surratt looks poised to have a tremendous impact for the Tar Heels.
Junior Jeremiah Gemmel also looks to build off of his 2019 campaign. Like Surratt, he made his first start in the season opener against South Carolina, and started all 13 games at inside linebacker for UNC. Gemmel finished second on the team with 84 total tackles and fourth with 7.5 tackles-for-loss. He added three forced fumbles to his line, the most on the team. He had one of his best games of the season during UNC's six overtime 43-41 loss against Virginia tech, when the redshirt first year had 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss to go along with a forced fumble. Gemmel provided a huge step up from his first-year season, and the Tar Heels will rely on him to build from the momentum of last season.
Another key contributor from North Carolina’s linebacker unit in 2019 was Tomon Fox, who will return for his senior season. Converting from defensive end to linebacker in 2019, Fox started all 13 games for UNC at outside linebacker. He finished with 41 tackles and nine tackles-for-loss, and tied for the UNC lead with 6.5 sacks last season. His best game of the season came in a 28-25 win over Miami where he recorded a career high 3.0 sacks.
Also returning for Chapel Hill will be senior Tyrone Hopper, sophomore Eugene Asante and sophomore Khadry Jackson. Hopper recorded 16 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in 12 appearances last year. Asante and Jackson recorded 12 and 11 tackles last season, respectively, with Asante and Jackson appeared in all 13 games on special teams and at linebacker. These three returning players are likely to provide depth at the position next season.
Listed as a linebacker on UNC football’s roster is Desmond Evans, who was ranked as the No. 4 weak side defensive end in the 2020 class by 247Sports. North Carolina could certainly use Evans in either the linebacker or defensive end positions, given his productivity at Lee County High School. Evans provides options for the coaching staff, on top of the existing depth that the linebacker unit has.
