By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina released a depth chart for the first time this season. Although it is labeled “unofficial,” it shows Gio Lopez as the starting quarterback and no changes offensively, but some shifts on the defensive line.
For the first time in years, there was no depth chart provided, even pregame for the media, before the TCU game for either team. There isn’t as much mystery ahead of Saturday’s 7 p.m. game at Charlotte (ESPN+).
After playing off the bench against TCU, Smith Vilbert and Melkart Abou–Jaoude are listed as the starting defensive ends.
Vilbert, a 6–6, 282–pound redshirt senior transfer from Penn State, had two tackles against TCU. Abou–Jaoude, a 6–5, 260–pound redshirt junior transfer from Delaware, had one tackle.
Here’s a look at the depth chart, position by position:
Quarterback
- 7 Gio Lopez (6–0, 203, redshirt sophomore)
- 14 Max Johnson (6–5, 225, senior)
Running back
- 4 Caleb Hood (6–0, 220, redshirt senior)
- 28 Benjamin Hall (5–11, 235, redshirt sophomore)
- 21 Davion Gause (5–11, 215, sophomore)
Wide receivers
- Jordan Shipp (6–2, 190, sophomore), Nathan Leacock (6–3, 217, redshirt sophomore)
- Chris Culliver (6–2, 195, junior), Kobe Paysour (6–1, 190, redshirt senior)
- Alex Taylor (6–2, 190, redshirt freshman), Javarius Green (5–10, 190, redshirt freshman)
Tight ends
- 80 Jordan Owens (6–6, 255, senior)
- 18 Connor Cox (6–6, 250, redshirt sophomore)
- 19 Jake Johnson (6–6, 240, redshirt junior)
Offensive line
- LT: William Boone/Eidan Buchanan
- LG: Aidan Banfield/Will O’Steen
- C: Christo Kelly/Chad Lindberg
- RG: Daniel King/Will O’Steen
- RT: Jakai Moore/Miles McVay
Defensive line
- DE: Vilbert/Joseph Mupoyi
- DT: D’Antre Robinson/Isaiah Johnson
- DT: Leroy Jackson/CJ Mims
- DE: Abou–Jaoude/Tyler Thompson
Linebackers
- MIKE: Andrew Simpson/Mikai Gbayor
- WILL: Khmori House/Jonathan Agumadu
Defensive backs
- CB: Thaddeus Dixon/Jalon Thompson
- CB: Marcus Allen/Khalil Conley
- Nickel: Kaleb Cost/Coleman Bryson
- S: Gavin Gibson/Peyton Waters
- S: Will Hardy/Jaiden Patterson
Special teams
- K: Rece Verhoff/ Guytano Bartolomeo
- P: Tom Maginness/Jacob Horvath
- LS: Spencer Triplett/Gannon Burt
- H: Tom Maginness/Jacob Horvath
- PR: Will Hardy/Javarius Green
- KR: Chris Culliver/Benjamin Hall
UNC depth chart
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 by Smith Hardy
tarheeltribune.com 