TB Ronnie McGill

2005 Statistics

Coach: John Bunting
24-36, 5 years
2005 Record: 5-6
at Georgia Tech LOST 21-27
WISCONSIN LOST 5-14
at NC State WON 31-24
UTAH WON 31-17
at Louisville LOST 14-69
VIRGINIA WON 7-5
at Miami FL LOST 16-34
BOSTON COLLEGE WON 16-14
MARYLAND LOST 30-33 (OT)
DUKE WON 24-21
at Virginia Tech LOST 3-30
 


2005 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR

2006 Outlook

Tar Heel fans are anxious to see this team start winning again. In Bunting's first five years, he has had only one campaign over .500 (his first). So naturally, the accusation that he was dealing with the previous coaches players continues to be a part of his naysayers’ complaints. Recent recruiting efforts have been stepped up and significant coaching changes have been made this off-season, but is it too little too late? A new offensive coordinator steps in - Frank Cignetti (from Fresno State) has instructions to be more aggressive. After all, this dismal offense (ranked 10th in the ACC for total effort and 11th in league scoring) needed to change something in an effort to locate an identity. Senior leadership seems a little more plentiful, but some question marks and holes exist on the depth chart, making this team yet another unpredictable crew. The Heels still seem far removed from challenging in the ACC Coastal Division. With a new offensive system and a dual-QB situation 100% undecided, the defense will need to be strong early. Playing three home games to start benefits the Heels. Getting six wins and a bowl invite should be their realistic expectations. Anything short and John Bunting's seat will continue to get hotter.


Projected 2006 record: 5-7
NORTH CAROLINA
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 3 DL - 3
RB - 3.5 LB - 3
WR - 2.5 DB - 3
OL - 2 ..
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Joey Bozich, 9-3-1, 12 yds., 0 TD

Rushing: Ronnie McGill, 130 att., 530 yds., 5 TD

Receiving: Jesse Holley, 47 rec., 670 yds., 1 TD

Scoring: Connor Barth, 11-21 FG, 23-23 PAT, 56 pts.

Punting: David Wooldridge, 66 punts, 41.1 avg.

Kicking: Connor Barth, 11-21 FG, 23-23 PAT, 56 pts.

Tackles: Larry Edwards, 91 tot., 43 solo

Sacks: Kareen Taylor, 3.5

Interceptions: Trimane Goddard, 3 for 1 yd.

Kickoff returns: Brandon Tate, 21 ret., 25.8 avg., 1 TD

Punt returns: Brandon Tate, 29 ret., 9.2 avg., 0 TD

 

LB Larry Edwards
  NORTH CAROLINA
OFFENSE - 5
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 8
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Matt Baker-QB, Steven Bell-C, Rikki Cook-FB, Mike Mason-WR, Kyle Ralph-OG, Skip Seagraves-OT, Jarwarski Pollack-WR, Derrele Mitchell-WR
DEFENSE: Tommy Davis-DE, Cedrick Holt-CB, Chase Page-DT, Tommy Richardson-LB, Mahlon Carey-SS
2006 OFFENSE

The main focus carrying over from spring is the starting QB job between Nebraska transfer Joe Dailey (started 11 games for the Huskers in 2004) and redshirt freshman Cameron Sexton. The battle was dead even after spring. Dailey represents more with his feet (4.4 speed) and obviously brings more experience to the table. Sexton has the better passing skills but also maintains fairly quick footwork. Both could possibly see action in some form of a rotation once the season officially starts. Look for Dailey to begin as the starter due to his experience.

When healthy, senior tailback Ronnie McGill is good enough to become the school's first 1,000-yard rusher in the last 10 years. He sat out the first four games of ‘05 recovering from a torn pectoral muscle and was removed from spring contact work. In his absence, LSU transfer Barrington Edwards gets the bulk of the carries but doesn't represent the explosiveness of his partner.

Four of the top five WRs from a year ago are gone. One of them, Mike Mason, was dismissed from the team. The lone returnee, senior Jesse Holley (a member of the 2005 NCAA champion basketball team), was the team's leading receiver, but no one else on the current depth chart has caught a pass in a college game. There is hope that two of the incoming freshmen (Hakeem Nicks and Deunta Williams) from a top recruiting class can compete for playing time. Dropped passes killed this team last fall. The newcomers will have to avoid such a plight if this offense is to progress. Tight end Jon Hamlett has been consistent for three seasons (46 career receptions) and should be viewed as one of the most experienced pass catchers.

The OL is anchored by tackle Brian Chacos, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility. New OL coach Mark Weber will be taking over a group extremely short on experience. The talent exists, but only playing time will tell if this unit is capable of providing protection for a new QB and holes for an unproven set of RBs.

 

WR Jesse Holley

 

NORTH CAROLINA 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Joe Dailey-Jr (6-1, 205) Cam Sexton-Fr (6-1, 180)
FB Nick Starcevic-So (6-2, 235) Joey Bozich-So (6-2, 228)
TB Ronnie McGill-Sr (5-11, 220) Barrington Edwards-Jr (6-0, 230)
WR Jesse Holley-Sr (6-3, 208) Brandon Tate-So (6-1, 193)
WR Brooks Foster-So (6-3, 200) Dirk Engram-Fr (5-10, 170)
TE Jon Hamlett-Sr (6-4, 260) Rock Wells-Jr (6-4, 250)
OT Brian Chacos-Sr (6-4, 301) Kendall High-Sr (6-4, 290)
OG Charlston Gray-Jr (6-3, 301) Aaron Stahl-Fr (6-3, 300)
C Ben Lemming-So (6-5, 301) Scott Lenahan-Jr (6-1, 285)
OG Kyle Jolly-Fr (6-6, 300) Kenny Price-So (6-4, 320)
OT Garrett Reynolds-So (6-7, 300) Andre Barbour-So (6-6, 290)
K Connor Barth-Jr (6-1, 192) ..

 

2006 DEFENSE

The DL improved by leaps and bounds (allowed 138 rushing yards per game) given the porous numbers put up in the three previous campaigns. This was continually the worst rushing defense in the ACC, and the marginal difference (finished 9th in the ACC) has to do with maturity - three seniors are represented in the starting rotation. The recruits became available, but patience had to be a key with the coaching staff. Now, the feeling is that this may be the best group since the 2001 campaign when NFL player Julius Peppers dotted the line up. Pressure on QBs must improve as the Heels lack a pass rushing threat from the outside.

LB Larry Edwards is of NFL caliber, but several position moves had to be made in an effort to give him some support. With the moves, coaches feel secure enough to believe that this can be a contributing factor in the plight of the overall defensive prognosis.

Cooter Arnold has moved from tailback to free safety and joins senior Kareen Taylor, who started all 11 games in 2005. The corners have some experience. Jacoby Watkins can be counted on after missing the final five games of last season with a broken leg, while the battle for playing time at the other CB slot will carry over into the fall. This unit as a whole finished ranked 9th in the ACC is pass efficiency defense, an effort that must improve, especially when called upon early as the offense attempts to gel.

 

DB Kareen Taylor

 

NORTH CAROLINA 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Brian Rackley-Sr (6-5, 263) Hilee Taylor-Jr (6-3, 230)
DT Kyndraus Guy-Jr (6-2, 282) Cam Thomas-Fr (6-4, 330)
DT Shelton Bynum-Sr (6-5, 295) Khalif Mitchell-Jr (6-6, 315)
DE Melik Brown-Sr (6-2, 260) Kentwan Balmer-Jr (6-5, 285)
SLB Larry Edwards-Sr (6-3, 230) Garrett White-So (6-2, 235)
MLB Victor Worsley-Sr (6-1, 235) Mark Paschal-So (6-0, 228)
WLB Durell Mapp-Jr (6-2, 220) Chase Rice-So (6-3, 220)
CB Jacoby Watkins-Sr (6-0, 190) Bryan Bethea-Jr (5-10, 185)
CB Quinton Person-Jr (5-11, 185) Jermaine Strong-Fr (5-10, 185)
SS Trimane Goddard-So (5-11, 185) D.J. Walker-Sr (6-0, 185)
FS Kareen Taylor-Sr (6-0, 200) Cooter Arnold-So (5-10, 190)
P David Wooldridge-Sr (6-2, 200) ..

 

 

2006 SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker Connor Barth had an amazing freshman season. That was two years ago. He truly hit a sophomore slump last fall, making only 11-of-21 attempts. His promise is good enough to make the kicking game a plus (he also handles kickoff duties). Much like Barth, punter David Wooldridge had issues in ’05, but those seemed to have been resolved this spring. His average severely dropped last fall when compared to the year prior. He did have some stellar performances on occasion but was far too inconsistent.