Analysis: Josh Downs leads intriguing UNC receiving core full of unknowns

Junior wide receiver Josh Downs became a household name following his standout sophomore season, but what remains a mystery is who will line up next to him this fall.

With the absence of senior wideout Antoine Green, who is set to be sidelined for six to 10 weeks with a collarbone injury, head coach Mack Brown will have to survey his roster to find second and third receiving options.

That lack of experience opens the door for another young wide receiver to break out onto the scene, like Downs did a year ago. Here's a look at what the group will provide to the offense this fall.

Josh Downs

Simply put, Downs had a career year for North Carolina in 2021. The junior wideout caught a whopping 101 passes for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns, earning him first team All-ACC honors.

The accolades did not stop there, as Downs also became the first player in UNC history to record 100 or more receptions in a single season.

An exceptional route runner with bursting speed, Downs seemed nearly impossible to guard at times last year. His ability to get in the open field along was on full display when he exploded for eight catches, 203 yards and two touchdowns in his best game of the season against Virginia.

Coming into this year as a preseason All-ACC selection, Downs should rank among the top receivers in the country, even with a new quarterback starting under center.

Antoine Green

Before going down to his collarbone injury, Green was set to be the team’s number two receiver this year. The fifth-year wideout hauled in a career-best 31 passes for 612 yards and five touchdowns last season, emerging as the team’s second-most reliable target in 2021.

Ranking second in the ACC last season with 19.7 yards per reception, Green could still be a valuable deep threat for UNC's offense if he returns during the second half of the season.

Kamari Morales

With the departure of Garrett Walston, Morales is the clear favorite to start at tight end this season. The 6-foot-2-inch junior led the position group last year with 24 receptions, 220 yards and five touchdowns. 

Morales has a knack for getting open in the red zone and became a reliable short-yardage target for former quarterback Sam Howell. However, the tight ends were not featured too much in offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s passing game last season, as they combined for only 51 catches.

With the uncertainty at the other starting receiver spots along with sophomore Bryson Nesbit emerging as a key player in his own right, the tight ends could be in line for more usage this year.

The young wideouts

When talking about the young, talented receivers Brown has to choose from, he has a plethora of options with J.J. Jones, Kobe Paysour, Gavin Blackwell and Andre Greene Jr.

Jones is the most proven from this list as he put up four catches for 67 yards as a first-year, highlighted by a 46-yard grab against Wofford. At 6-foot-2-inches, Jones is a physical receiver capable of winning 50-50 balls, and he could be a solid second receiving option next to Downs while Green is out.

In addition to Jones, the rest of the young receivers all came to Chapel Hill as four-star recruits, making them candidates to make a significant impact if given the opportunity.

With the wide receiver room experiencing plenty of turnover over the last few seasons, many targets will be up for grabs for the Tar Heels receiving core. Although many players don't possess much game experience, their talents could help the unit reload in a rebuilt offense in 2022.

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