When looking at college football’s recent championship teams, the quarterback position is usually occupied by someone who can put up gaudy numbers — and Sam Howell checks that box for North Carolina.
But no matter how talented the quarterback is, his skills are nullified without strong play from the wide receiver unit. The team's receiving corps was a large part of its potent offense that ranked 12th in the country with 468.8 yards per game in 2019. Here's a look at what to expect from the group this season.
Dyami Brown
After a modest rookie season in 2018, junior Dyami Brown burst onto the scene and became one of the nation’s rising stars last fall. He contributed 1,034 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, both of which led the team.
And as the year went along, Brown continued to improve. Once offensive coordinator Phil Longo gained confidence in Howell’s ability to lead the air-raid offense, Brown went on a tear in the last five games, racking up 557 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Coming into the 2020 season, he was named to this year’s Biletnikoff Award Watch List, which is given annually to the nation’s best wide receiver.
When evaluating Brown’s strengths, the first thing that stands out is his ability to make big plays. Last season, he averaged 20.3 yards per reception, which ranked ninth in the nation among qualified receivers. Much of his success can be attributed to his ability to create separation at the line of scrimmage, where he uses his speed to break away from cornerbacks on deep routes.
Dazz Newsome
Coming into last season, senior Dazz Newsome started out as the Tar Heels' top receiver. After racking up 72 catches for 1,018 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019, he’s done little to relinquish that title.
Much like Brown, Newsome's success was boosted by a late-season surge in production, as he totaled 732 yards and eight touchdowns in his last seven games. He now joins Brown on this year’s Biletnikoff watchlist.
