On a USFL weekend when Coach Larry Fedora’s New Orleans Breakers lost in a battle of unbeaten teams, Anthony Ratliff-Williams and Bug Howard got touchdown receptions in improbable ways. In Houston’s 27–26 loss to the Tampa Bay Bandits, Ratliff-Williams scored on a 57-yard pass play that was one of the wackier sequences you’ll ever see.More
Category Archives: Football
Commanders pick Howell in fifth round; 4 Tar Heels drafted
Sam Howell’s interminable wait finally ended at the start of the fifth round on Saturday afternoon when the Washington Commanders made the Carolina quarterback the 144th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and the sixth quarterback selected. The former Redskins may have just got one of the steals of the draft in getting the No. 34 player on the Pro Football Focus big board. A year ago, Howell was considered to be a sure first-round pick. Since 2019, Howell has PFP’s top grade in fourth quarters at 92.4. “God is so faithful,” Howell wrote on Twitter. “So excited for this next chapter. Let’s go to work!”More
Fedora’s USFL team, one of two 2–0 teams, rolls by 31
This USFL venture is off to an impressive start for Coach Larry Fedora. His New Orleans Breakers rolled to a 34–3 victory Sunday in Birmingham, Ala., over the Tampa Bay Bandits, and are one of the league’s only two 2–0 teams.More
Logan scores TD as Fedora wins USFL debut; Howard scores in loss
In his first game as a head coach since leaving Carolina in 2018, Larry Fedora won his United States Football League debut with the help of T.J. Logan Jr.’s running. Their New Orleans Breakers beat the Philadelphia Stars 23–17 Sunday in the first weekend of action for the new spring football league in Birmingham, Ala.More
Which former Tar Heels are in the USFL and how has league altered rules?
Three former Carolina players and a former UNC head coach are part of the new iteration of the United States Football League, which starts play this weekend with several rule changes. Larry Fedora is the head coach for the New Orleans Breakers, and he’ll coach a player who played for him in Chapel Hill: running back T.J. Logan Jr. The Breakers’ first game is at 4 p.m. Sunday (USA Network) against the Philadelphia Stars and tight end Bug Howard. Anthony Ratliff-Williams is a wide receiver for the Houston Gamblers, whose opener is at noon Sunday against the Michigan Panthers (NBC, Peacock).More
Basketball star Ustby kicks up the awe factor with 35-yard field goal
By R.L. Bynum CHAPEL HILL — Carolina fans already knew that Alyssa Ustby was versatile from watching her score, pass, rebound, distribute and defend on the basketball court with dogged determination. But they didn’t know just how versatile until she kicked it up a few notches at halftime of UNC’s #TyleeStrong Spring Football Game on…More
Downs catching intense competition to replace Howell at QB
CHAPEL HILL — There are a lot of questions coming out of spring practice for Carolina but who will be the big-play receiver isn’t one of them. Drake Maye figures to be the favorite to start at quarterback for the Tar Heels in August, but whoever gets the call has the real luxury of throwing to junior wide receiver Josh Downs. Downs showed that big-play prowess again with first-half touchdown receptions of 12 yards from Jacolby Criswell and 38 yards from Maye.More
All you need to know about Saturday’s UNC spring football event
Fans will get the chance to watch Drake Maye, the likely successor to Sam Howell at quarterback, as well as talented freshman running back George Pettaway at Saturday’s spring football event at Kenan Stadium. Known this year as the #TyleeStrong Spring Football Game, it’s free to fans. The name is to show support for wide receiver Tylee Craft, who recently was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.More
Trubisky reportedly to sign two-year deal with Steelers
Mitchell Trubisky reportedly has reached an agreement on a two-year deal with Pittsburgh, where he will likely replace Ben Roethlisberger as the Steelers’ starting quarterback. Trubisky’s competition to take over for the retired Roethlisberger will be Mason Rudolph.More
Reports link Trubisky to Giants, where he’d compete ex-Duke QB Jones
Could it be a battle between quarterbacks from Carolina and Duke for the New York Giants’ starting quarterback job? That could be the case if reports are correct.More
Fedora to coach USFL’s New Orleans Breakers
Larry Fedora will get another chance to be a head coach in the latest iteration of the United States Football League. Fedora is the head coach of the New Orleans Breakers, one of eight teams for the league that begins play on April 16. More
Tar Heels face easier start but challenging schedule as they move on without Howell
Carolina will try to rebound from a losing football season without record-breaking quarterback Sam Howell against a challenging schedule. Announced Monday night, the schedule includes four teams ranked in the final AP Top 25, seven that earned bowl bids and another that made the FCS playoffs.
More
TarHeelTribune.com 