By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — Bill Belichick is never one to reveal information he’d prefer the opponent not to know about.
He acknowledged during a Friday press conference at the Kenan Football Center that Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. will start in the Aug. 29 opener in Dublin, Ireland, against TCU.
Belichick didn’t tip his hand about how much Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill will play in Dublin.
“We won’t make any commitment to that,” Belichick said. “We’ll still see how that goes. Might be the same week to week. It might not. I think whoever’s in there, I feel good about them being able to execute our offense and be productive.”
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During practices open to the media, O’Neill took first-team reps, and he reportedly started the scrimmages.
Edwards has far more experience, throwing for 3,445 yards and 19 touchdowns over 28 games. O’Neil has only played in eight games over two seasons, throwing for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
Belichick described the competition behind Edwards as one of the most productive storylines to come out of training camp.
“The quarterback situation was very competitive. I feel like we got several good players there. I have a lot of confidence in all of them,” Belichick said. “That’s a good room. Those guys really support each other.
“They’re good teammates, and they try to help each other out and just help the team win, play better, and that’s really what we’re all about,” Belichick said. “So, I have a lot of respect for the way those guys handle the competition, and we’ll see how it goes going forward.”
The depth in that room has impressed players and coaches.
Senior wide receiver Mason Humphrey, who transferred in this offseason from FCS Lehigh, said he had no read on how the competition would shake out while it was happening.
“I’ve thrown with all of them, so it was more like I didn’t know who was going to be QB 1, and whoever won it, they deserved it full on,” Humphrey said. “Whatever the coach has planned for Billy and me, then I’m going to perform whenever my number gets called.”
Humphrey, who caught 35 passes for 650 yards last season, pointed to Edwards’ arm talent as one of the traits that stood out once camp got underway, along with the way the presumptive starter has carried himself in the huddle.
“He has a good deep ball and, all around, Billy’s a great player, on and off the field,” Humphrey said. “He definitely takes control. Even during practice, that’s the first thing that I noticed when I got here.
“He took control of the huddle,” Humphrey said. “He’ll talk with you after practice, like, ‘Oh, hold on, let’s watch this, let’s look at this, let’s get this route better.’ He loves the game, and I love seeing that from a quarterback, especially being a transfer.”
Running back Jaylen McGill offered a similar assessment from the backfield, where he has had a close view of the position battle throughout camp.
“You can tell Billy has a lot of experience. He throws a catchable ball all the time,” McGill said. “But with all the quarterbacks in the room, I think they’re all capable of being a quarterback and playing. I don’t think there are any drop-offs in our room, and I’m very excited to see what Billy does this year.”
Belichick was careful to note that Edwards didn’t separate himself through any single throw or moment, but through the accumulation of reps dating back to spring practice, saying that all of the quarterbacks did good things in camp.
“Billy’s probably a little more consistent, and he has more experience, and that probably showed up over a long haul,” Belichick said. “We’re talking about close to almost 2,000 snaps between the spring and training camp, and seven-on-seven, you get into the throwing drills and all that.
“It’s not based on one play or one series or one touchdown or one interception or anything,” Belichick said. “It’s kind of the whole composite of it. But again, we have confidence in all those guys, and whoever’s in there, I know everybody feels good about.”
Photo via @UNCFootball
