By R.L. Bynum
BOSTON — It’s been hard to escape the national buzz Carolina’s hiring of Bill Belichick as its football coach created, but the players will aim to do just that when they play at Fenway Park.
Saturday’s 11 a.m. Fenway Bowl with UConn (ESPN) will be the final college game for several Tar Heels, including wide receiver J.J. Jones, who won’t be part of what promises to be one of the most anticipated Carolina football seasons in years next season.
Instead, it’s a time of reflection about the frustrating 6–6 season while trying to focus on the Huskies.
“It’s definitely been challenging. I think this past season was probably one of the most mentally challenging seasons I’ve had since I’ve been here. I’ve had a lot of things go wrong off the field and on the field,” said Jones, who credited interim coach Freddie Kitchens for reminding the team to “be where your feet are” and focus.
“I know this is my last football game in the Tar Heel uniform, so I’m gonna go out there and give it my all. And I’m just excited to be here,” Jones said.
It may help that, according to a UNC spokesman, Belichick isn’t expected to be in Fenway Park. The coaching legend continues to build next season’s roster, already with 10 commitments from the transfer portal.
“I talk to Coach [Belichick] every day, but not during the game and stuff like that. He understands we have a job to do here,” said Kitchens, who will be on Belichick’s staff.
It will be much easier for UConn coach Jim Mora to ignore the buzz.
“It’s irrelevant to us,” Mora said. “You can’t control the emotional component of our opponents, and so we don’t try to focus on on what we can control, and that’s our preparation. As far as I know, Coach Belichick will not be taking the field on on Saturday. So, it’s irrelevant to this football team.”
The cascading changes after UNC fired Coach Mack Brown and hired Belichick have made preparing for the Fenway Bowl more challenging.
“This bowl game is more about these guys who are never going to wear a Carolina uniform again,” Kitchens said, “and making sure these guys go out with the best feeling possible about the program. They left the program in a better spot than when they first got here. For them to have a part in the new beginning, I think it’s special.”
The offensive players lost their coordinator when Chip Lindsey became the offensive coordinator at Michigan, and also lost their best player when All-ACC running back Omarion Hampton opted out of the game. In addition, 14 players from this season’s team still are in the transfer portal.
At least for fifth-year tight end John Copenhaver, there was comfort when Kitchens, his tight ends coach, became the interim coach.
“Just look to the person to your left, the person to your right, that’s who you got,” said Copenhaver, who will play his final college game. “Coach wants to leave, he can leave. Player wants to leave, he can leave. But we know that we have a job to do. That’s all we’re focused on — one-on-one, battles, competition, being tough.”
Even players who will be part of that ride next season are trying not to let the excitement of the Belichick era distract them from trying to beat UConn.
“That’s kind of outside noise,” sophomore linebacker Amare Campbell said. “I feel like speaking personally; I feel like speaking for the team. Outside noise; we’re just focused on winning.”
Success in bowl games often depends on which team is more motivated to be there. Could it be UConn (8–4), which will finish with a winning record for the first time since 2010, or the Tar Heels (6–6), who seek their first bowl win since rolling over Temple 55–13 in the 2019 Military Bowl?
Copenhaver suggests that motivation won’t be a problem for UNC.
“The last couple of weeks have been built on toughness and really just hammering that into us,” Copenhaver said of Kitchens’ emphasis. “And I think it’s been paying off pretty well. Everyone’s pretty pumped for this game, and we’ve all been pretty excited for all of the competition that we do and practice and everything. So we’re all pretty pumped for the game.”
NOTES — Offensive lineman Willie Lampkin, originally set to be part of the press conference, wasn’t there and is opting out of the game. … Running back Caleb Hood has pulled his name from the transfer portal. … UConn is winless against power conference opponents, losing 50–7 on Aug. 31 at Maryland and against three ACC opponents: at Duke 26–21 on Sept. 14, vs. Wake Forest 23–20 on Oct. 19 and at Syracuse 31–24 on Nov. 24. … Carolina won all three meetings with the Huskies, 12–10 on Sept. 12, 2009, at East Hartford, Conn., and twice at Kenan Stadium: 38–12 on Oct. 4, 2008, and 48–21 on Sept. 15, 1990. … UConn is 25th in the country in rushing (198.3 yards per game), with the load spread between Cam Edwards (756 yards), Durell Robinson (731) and Mel Brown (577), and Carolina is 30th (189.5), but will be without Hampton. … UConn seeks its first bowl win since beating South Carolina 21–10 in Birmingham after the 2009 season. … Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich and Coley Harvey will be on the ESPN call of the game.
UNC schedule
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| August | ||
| 29 | TBA | vs.TCU in Dublin, Ireland |
| September | ||
| 12 | TBA | vs. ETSU |
| 19 | TBA | at Clemson |
| October | ||
| 3 | TBA | vs. Notre Dame |
| 10 | TBA | at Pittsburgh |
| 17 | TBA | at Duke |
| 24 | TBA | vs. Syracuse |
| 31 | TBA | vs. Miami |
| November | ||
| 7 | TBA | at UConn |
| 14 | TBA | vs. Louisville |
| 21 | TBA | at Virginia |
| 28 | TBA | vs. N.C. State |
| December | ||
| 5 | noon, ABC | ACC championship game in Charlotte |
Transfer portal transactions
Incoming transfers
(Next season’s classes listed)
Senior defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude • 6–5, 260 pounds • Delaware
2024: 11 games, 10 tackles, 17 assists, 6.5 sacks for 50 yards, 8 QB hits
Senior offensive tackle William Boone (2 years of eligibility) • 6–6, 349 pounds • Prairie View A&M
2024: 12 games, team-high 782 snaps; didn’t allow a sack
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Browne • 6–4, 210 pounds • Purdue
2024: 8 games, 34 of 76, 532 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 127.5 quarterback rating
Junior defensive back Coleman Bryson • 6–2, 210 pounds • Minnesota
2024: 13 games, 14 tackles, 6 assists, 3 passes defended (pick-six below from 2022 season)
Junior tight end Connor Cox • 6–6, 251 pounds • South Carolina
2024: 4 games, 1 catch, 9 yards, 1 TD
Fifth-year cornerback Thaddeus Dixon • 6-1, 186 pounds • Washington
2024: 13 games, 26 tackles, 17 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 interception, 10 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
Senior defensive back Gavin Gibson • 6-0, 185 pounds • East Carolina
2024: 13 games, 25 tackles, 27 assists, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups
Sophomore linebacker Khmori House • 6-0, 213 pounds • Washington
2024: 12 games, 19 tackles, 16 assists, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups, 1 QB hit
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Aziah Johnson • 6–0, 175 pounds • Michigan State
2024: 12 games, 16 catches, 276 yards, 2 touchdowns; 1 rush, 15 yards
Fifth-year center Christo Kelly • 6–4, 305 pounds • Holy Cross
2024: Started 12 games, part of line that allowed 1.08 sacks per game, 11th-best in country
Fifth-year offensive lineman Daniel King • 6–5, 340 pounds • Troy
2024: 12 games, 429 snaps at right tackle, 360 at right guard, allowed 2 sacks, named All-Sun Belt second team
Senior offensive lineman Chad Lindberg • 6–6, 315 pounds • Rice (Georgia before that)
2024: Played 11 games after playing 20 games and 139 snaps for Georgia
Sophomore offensive tackle Miles McVay • 6–6, 340 pounds • Alabama
2024: 5 games, 94 snaps
Sophomore defensive tackle C.J. Mims • 6–2, 302 pounds • East Carolina
2024: 12 games, 4 tackles, 19 assists, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jason Robinson Jr. • 5–10, 151 pounds • Washington
2024: Redshirted after catching 68 passes for 900 yards as a senior at Long Beach Poly
Junior place-kicker Adam Samaha • 5–11, 195 pounds • Michigan
2024: didn’t play (Wolverines had Big Ten Kicker of Year Dominic Zvada)
2023: 1 game, 1 extra-point attempt made • Hit 60-yard FG in training (in below video)
Sophomore safety Peyton Waters • 6–1, 182 pounds • Washington
2024: 13 games, 3 tackles, 2 assists
Redshirt senior defensive lineman Pryce Yates • 6–4, 265 pounds • UConn
2024: 7 games, 12 tackles, 9 assists, 3.5 sacks for 23 yards, 5 QB hurries; Fenway Bowl defensive MVP
Tar Heels entering, exiting portal
(Next season’s classes listed)
Redshirt sophomore 5–11, 180-pound defensive back Ty Adams
2024: 4 tackles
Sophomore 6–3, 300-pound offensive lineman Aidan Banfield
2024: 62.8 Pro Football Focus grade best in country among true freshmen
Fifth-year 6–5, 310 fifth-year center Austin Blaske
2024: Started 11 games with Pro Football Focus grade of 85.6
Junior 6–0, 230-pound linebacker Amare Campbell
2024: 12 games, 42 tackles, 30 assists, 11 tackles for losses, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Fifth-year 5–11, 220-pound running back Caleb Hood
2024: 4 games, 7 carries, 3 yards, 1 catch, 29 yards
Senior 6–1, 190-pound wide receiver Kobe Paysour
2024: 12 games, 19 catches, 330 yards
In the transfer portal
— Offensive linemen Zach Greenberg (committed to James Madison), Jakiah Leftwich (Central Florida), Malik McGowan (UNLV), Andrew Rosinski (Georgia Tech), Howard Sampson (Texas Tech) and Eli Sutton (Austin Peay)
— Running back Jordan Louie
— Quarterbacks Conner Harrell (Charlotte), Michael Merdinger (Liberty) and Jacolby Criswell (East Tennessee State)
— Linebackers Ashton Woods (West Virginia) and Caleb LaVallee (Florida State)
— Defensive lineman Travis Shaw (Texas)
— Defensive backs DeAndre Boykins and Tyrane Stewart
— Place-kicker Noah Burnette (Notre Dame)
Reported Belichick’s staff members
General manager Michael Lombardi — Worked in NFL 1984–2016, including Cleveland Browns general manager in 2013 and assistant to the coaching staff for the New England Patriots 2014–16
Director of Player Personnel Joe Anile — NFL scout for the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars
Assistant Director of Player Personnel Andrew Blaylock — Assistant athletics director for player personnel at Central Florida the last three seasons; had similar positions at Appalachian State 2016–22 and Texas State 2015–16
Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick — Defensive coordinator last season at Washington; New England Patriots defensive coach 2012–23
Strength and conditioning coach Moses Cabrera — New England Patriots assistant strength coach 2011–15; head Patriots strength and conditioning coach 2016–23
Offensive assistant coach Bob Diaco — Was defensive coach at LSU the last two seasons; has coached in college since 1999.
Offensive-line coach Will Friend — Offensive coordinator last season at Western Kentucky; was offensive line coach at Tennessee (2018–20), Auburn (2021–22), Mississippi State (2023) and Tennessee; offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Colorado State (2015–17) and offensive line coach at Georgia (2011–14)
Cory Giddings — Will be part of player personnel staff; Director of Player Personnel at Central Florida the past two seasons, working with Blaylock there, and before that at Appalachian State
Armond Hawkins — Was secondary analyst and assistant director of recruiting last season at Washington. Before that, he spent one season at Arizona, one season at Colorado and two seasons at Southern Cal.
Defensive assistant coach Chris Jones — CFL coach 2002–18, 2021–2024; 2018 CFL Coach of Year at Saskatchewan; head coach in 2015 of Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos; Cleveland Browns defensive assistant coach 2019
Offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens — UNC run-game coordinator and tight ends coach 2023–24; interim UNC coach for 2024 Fenway Bowl; head coach Cleveland Browns 2019; Assistant coach with New York Giants (2020–21), Browns (2018), Arizona Cardinals (2007–2017), Dallas Cowboys (2006), Mississippi State (2004), North Texas (2001–03), LSU (2000) and Glenville State (1999)
Offensive assistant coach Matt Lombardi — Was an offensive analyst last season at Oregon; NFL assistant with Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers
Running backs coach Natrone Means — A UNC running back (1990–92) who was a two-time All-ACC pick, he has been with the program since joining Mack Brown’s staff as an offensive analyst in 2021.
Offensive assistant coach Garrick McGee — Was wide receivers coach at Louisville the last two seasons. Has coached in college since 1996.
Chris Mattes — The former professional lacrosse player had been the New England Patriots’ Director of Football Development, and had been with the team the last eight seasons.
Assistant coach Billy Miller — IMG Academy assistant head coach 2014–21, head coach 2022–24
Special teams coach Mike Priefer — NFL assistant coach since 2002; head special teams coach at Kansas City (2006–08), Denver (2009–10), Minnesota (2011–18) and Cleveland (2019–22).
UNC schedule
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| August | ||
| 29 | TBA | vs.TCU in Dublin, Ireland |
| September | ||
| 12 | TBA | vs. ETSU |
| 19 | TBA | at Clemson |
| October | ||
| 3 | TBA | vs. Notre Dame |
| 10 | TBA | at Pittsburgh |
| 17 | TBA | at Duke |
| 24 | TBA | vs. Syracuse |
| 31 | TBA | vs. Miami |
| November | ||
| 7 | TBA | at UConn |
| 14 | TBA | vs. Louisville |
| 21 | TBA | at Virginia |
| 28 | TBA | vs. N.C. State |
| December | ||
| 5 | noon, ABC | ACC championship game in Charlotte |
Photo via @UNCFootball
tarheeltribune.com 