The 2022 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels were led by head coach Mack Brown, who was in the fourth season of his second stint at North Carolina and 14th overall season at the university. The team played their home games at Kenan Stadium.
Offseason
Coaching changes Immediately following the bowl-game loss to South Carolina, head coach Mack Brown stated that changes needed to be made. Speculation then began as to what those changes would be, with suggestions including the possibility of certain coaches being let go. The changes began to crystalize when, on January 7, 2022, co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Jay Bateman and special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach Jovan Dewitt were let go.
The following day, the school announced the hires of Gene Chizik and Charlton Warren to fill the vacant positions on social media. Chizik was named assistant head coach for defense, and Warren co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach. Both Chizik and Warren were on staff in Chapel Hill under former head coach Larry Fedora during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and were instrumental in turning around a defense that had struggled mightily in the 2014 season, leading to a combined 19 wins during their first stints in Chapel Hill.
Running backs coach Larry Porter, who served as assistant STC in 2021, was elevated to special teams coordinator following Dewitt's departure, while continuing his responsibilities with the running back position.
On February 28, 2022, a day before the beginning of the Tar Heels' spring practice, offensive line coach Stacy Searels left the team to take the same position with Georgia.
The next day, as spring practice kicked off, it was reported by The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and other sources that the Tar Heels were targeting Louisville OL coach Jack Bicknell Jr. for the vacant position, though nothing official was announced by either school. Carolina officially announced Bicknell's hiring on March 3, 2022. Bicknell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo had previously worked together when they were at Ole Miss.
Tar Heel football alumnus and NFL safety Da'Norris Searcy returned to the program in the spring, joining the staff as the director of football student athlete development.
Prior to fall camp getting started, Frank Wilson was added to the staff as senior special teams analyst.
Departures
NFL draft
The following Tar Heels were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Tar Heels' four 2022 selections tied for the most draft picks in the ACC.
3 67 Joshua Ezeudu OL New York Giants 5 144 Sam Howell QB Washington Commanders 5 169 Ty Chandler RB Minnesota Vikings 5 175 Marcus McKethan OL New York Giants
Undrafted free agent signings The following players went unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, and signed UDFA rookie contracts with NFL teams.
Tomon Fox (LB) – New York Giants Jeremiah Gemmel (LB) – San Francisco 49ers Kyler McMichael (DB) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jordan Tucker (OL) – Pittsburgh Steelers Garrett Walston (TE) – San Francisco 49ers
Preseason transfers Fifteen members of the 2021 team elected to enter the NCAA transfer portal prior to the 2022 season. Name No. Pos. Height Weight Hometown Year New school Eugene Asante 7 LB 6'1" 220 Chantilly, VA Junior Auburn Khafre Brown 1 WR 6'0" 190 Charlotte, NC Sophomore South Florida Beau Corrales 15 WR 6'3" 210 Georgetown, TX Graduate† SMU Kamarro Edmonds 33 RB 5'11" 235 Havelock, NC Freshman East Carolina Stephen Gosnell 12 WR 6'1" 205 Pilot Mountain, NC Sophomore Virginia Tech Josh Henderson 23 RB 5'11" 215 Princeton, NJ Junior Indiana Tyrone Hopper 42 LB 6'4" 245 Roswell, GA Graduate† Missouri Teagen Lenderink 96 PK 6'1" 175 Belmont, MI Freshman‡ Liberty Trey Morrison 4 DB 5'9" 190 Norcross, GA Graduate† Oklahoma Alex Nobles 97 LB 6'2" 250 Rocky Mount, NC Senior‡ FIU Clyde Pinder 55 DL 6'0" 300 Seffner, FL Sophomore South Florida Cameron Roseman-Sinclair 3 DB 5'11" 180 Charlotte, NC Sophomore TBD Emery Simmons 0 WR 6'1" 195 Hope Mills, NC Junior Indiana Trevion Stevenson 26 LB 6'4" 240 Hampton, VA Freshman Norfolk State Kristian Varner 93 DL 6'6" 300 Hiram, GA Sophomore Georgia Southern † Elected to use extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA in response to COVID-19. ‡ Walk-on
Other preseason departures Three players left the team for personal reasons.
Name No. Pos. Height Weight Hometown Year Reason for departure Wisdom Asaboro 77 OL 6'8" 332 Warri, Nigeria Junior Medical Retirement Quiron Johnson 69 OL 6'2" 313 Reidsville, NC Graduate Forgoing remaining eligibility Ethan West 19 LB 6'3" 245 Richmond, VA Sophomore Medical Retirement
Additions
Incoming transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. school Lejond Cavazos 6 DB 6'0" 195 Sophomore San Antonio, TX Ohio State Jacolbe Cowan 93 DL 6'4" 275 Sophomore Charlotte, NC Ohio State Corey Gaynor 65 OL 6'4" 308 Graduate Parkland, FL Miami (FL) Spencer Rolland 75 OL 6'6" 285 Graduate Saint Paul, MN Harvard Noah Taylor 7 OLB 6'5" 235 Graduate Silver Spring, MD Virginia
Recruiting class
North Carolina signed 17 players in the class of 2022. The Tar Heels' class finished 10th in both the 247Sports and Rivals rankings. Nine signees were ranked in the final ESPN 300 top prospect list.
Preseason
ACC Media Poll 2022 ACC Football Media Days were held at The Westin Charlotte on July 20 and 21, 2022. At that event, head coaches and player representatives from the 14 ACC teams met with the media and discussed the upcoming season. Following the event, the ACC released a preseason poll on July 26, 2022 which was voted on by members of the sports media.
Coastal Division 1 Miami 1,036 (98) 2 Pittsburgh 911 (38) 3 North Carolina 823 (18) 4 Virginia 667 (6) 5 Virginia Tech 592 (3) 6 Georgia Tech 343 (1) 7 Duke 220
Overall Champion 1 Clemson 103 2 NC State 38 3 Miami 8 4 Wake Forest 4 5 Pittsburgh 3 Virginia 3 7 Florida State 2 North Carolina 2 9 Boston College 1
Preseason All-ACC Team North Carolina had one player selected by the media make the 2022 Preseason All-ACC Team.
Josh Downs – WR/Specialist
Preseason All-Americans
Josh Downs (Sporting News) – 2nd Team (WR)
Award watch lists Lott Trophy Tony GrimesDBJr.Maxwell Award Josh DownsWRJr.Doak Walker Award British BrooksRBGSBiletnikoff AwardJosh DownsWRJr. Bronko Nagurski TrophyMyles MurphyDLJr.Outland TrophyMyles MurphyDLJr.Ray Guy AwardBen KiernanPSr.Walter Camp AwardJosh DownsWRJr. Bednarik AwardMyles MurphyDLJr.Mannelly AwardDrew LittleLSSr.
Personnel
Coaching staff North Carolina Tar Heels coaches Mack Brown Head coach 4th of second stint, 14th overall Phil Longo Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach 4th John Lilly Tight end coach 3rd Jack Bicknell Jr. Offensive line coach 1st Lonnie Galloway Assistant head coach/Wide receivers coach 4th Larry Porter Special Teams/Running backs2nd Gene Chizik Assistant head coach for defense 1st of second stint, 3rd overall Charlton Warren Co-defensive Coordinator/Defensive backs coach1st Tommy Thigpen Co-defensive coordinator/Inside Linebackers coach 5th Tim Cross Defensive line coach 4th Dre Bly Cornerbacks coach 4th Brian Hess Strength and conditioning 4th Natrone Means Offensive analyst 2nd Frank Wilson Senior Special Teams Analyst/Coordinator 1st Sparky Woods Senior advisor to head coach 4th Darrell Moody Senior advisor to head coach 4thReference:
Roster 2022 North Carolina Tar Heels Football RosterQuarterback 10 Drake Maye – freshman (6'5, 216) 14 Jefferson Boaz – sophomore (6'7, 250) 15 Conner Harrell – freshman (6'1, 195) 16 Russell Tabor – freshman (6'3, 205)
Running back 4 Caleb Hood – sophomore (5'11, 227) 21 Elijah Green – sophomore (5'11, 198) 23 George Pettaway – freshman (5'11, 190) 24 British Brooks – senior (5'11, 226) 26 D.J. Jones – junior (5'10, 202) 28 Omarion Hampton – freshman (6'0, 220)
Wide receiver 0 Tychaun "Doc" Chapman – freshman (5'10, 170) 1 Andre Greene Jr. – freshman (6'2, 190) 2 Gavin Blackwell – freshman (5'11, 170) 3 Antoine Green – senior (6'2, 207) 5 J.J. Jones – sophomore (6'2, 210) 8 Kobe Paysour – freshman (6'1, 180) 11 Josh Downs – junior (5'10, 171) 19 Grady Sherrill – freshman (5'8, 160) 20 Brooks Miller – freshman (5'11, 167) 25 Kellan Hood – freshman (5'11, 185) 27 Michael Hall – freshman (6'1, 180) 29 Jeffrey Saturday – junior (5'10, 183) 38 Aiden Cloninger – freshman (5'11, 180) 83 Justin Olson – junior (6'2, 189) 84 Cyrus Rogers – freshman (5'11, 178) 85 Landon Stevens – sophomore (6'2, 201) 86 Thomas Flynn – freshman (6'3, 210)
Placekicker 90 Todd Pledger – freshman (6'5, 195) 98 Noah Burnette – sophomore (5'9, 175)
Punter 91 Ben Kiernan – senior (6'0, 215) 92 Cole Maynard — Freshman (6'2, 172) Tight end 18 Bryson Nesbit – sophomore (6'6, 220) 80 Will Crowley – junior (5'11, 240) 81 John Copenhaver – sophomore (6'3, 235) 88 Kamari Morales – junior (6'2, 242) 89 Jake Young – freshman (6'3, 225)
Offensive line 52 Jonathan Adorno – junior (6'4, 301) 54 Chance Carroll – sophomore (6'2, 295) 55 Zach Rice – freshman (6'6, 315) 57 Cayden Baker – sophomore (6'5, 316) 60 Carter Kulka – freshman (6'5, 255) 61 Diego Pounds – freshman (6'7, 330) 63 Ed Montilus – senior (6'4, 309) 64 Malik McGowan – sophomore (6'3, 330) 65 Corey Gaynor – graduate (6'4, 309) 68 Brian Anderson – graduate (6'3, 294) 69 Jarvis Hicks – freshman (6'6, 300) 70 Noland Brown – junior (6'0, 295) 72 Asim Richards – senior (6'4, 320) 73 Eli Sutton – freshman (6'8, 308) 74 Justin Kanyuk – freshman (6'6, 325) 75 Spencer Rolland – graduate (6'6, 310) 76 William Barnes – senior (6'4, 320) 78 Trevyon Green – freshman (6'7, 345) 79 Bo Burkes – freshman (6'1, 285)
Defensive line 4 Travis Shaw – freshman (6'5, 360) 5 Jahvaree Ritzie – sophomore (6'5, 284) 8 Myles Murphy – junior (6'4, 300) 10 Desmond Evans – junior (6'6, 261) 12 Beau Atkinson – freshman (6'6, 240) 41 Kedrick Bingley-Jones – sophomore (6'4, 313) 51 Raymond Vohasek – graduate (6'3, 300) 56 Tomari Fox – senior (6'2, 290) 88 Deems May – freshman (6'2, 195) 92 Kody Kovacevic Freshman (6'3, 240) 93 Jacolbe Cowan – sophomore (6'4, 275) 96 Nic Harvey – freshman (6'1, 340) 98 Kevin Hester Jr. – junior (6'4, 306) Jack 7 Noah Taylor – graduate (6'5, 235) 34 Gabe Stephens – freshman (6'4, 204) 87 Colby Doreen – sophomore (6'4, 228)
Linebacker 19 Bryson Jennings – freshman (6'4, 230) 23 Power Echols – sophomore (5'11, 225) 24 Malaki Hamrick – freshman (6'4, 200) 25 Kaimon Rucker – junior (6'1, 262) 32 Sebastian Cheeks – freshman (6'3, 220) 33 Cedric Gray – sophomore (6'1, 225) 36 Jalen Brooks – sophomore (6'0, 236) 44 Randy "Deuce" Caldwell – freshman (6'0, 225) 45 Jake Harkleroad – junior (5'10, 210) 47 CJ Murphy – freshman (6'1, 225) 48 Milad Aghaiepour – sophomore (5'10, 215) 53 Gibson Macrae – freshman (6'2, 211)
Defensive back 0 Ja'Qurious Conley – junior (6'1, 205) 1 Tony Grimes – junior (6'0, 195) 2 Don Chapman – senior (6'1, 187) 3 Storm Duck – junior (6'0, 194) 6 Lejond Cavazos – junior (6'0, 190) 9 Cam'Ron Kelly – senior (6'1, 215) 13 Obi Egbuna – senior (5'10, 190) 14 Dontae Balfour – freshman (6'1, 180) 15 Ladaeson DeAndre Hollins – senior (6'1, 200) 16 DeAndre Boykins – sophomore (5'11, 197) 18 Christopher Holliday – sophomore (6'3, 221) 20 Tayon Holloway – freshman (6'1, 160) 26 Naari Short – sophomore (5'9, 175) 27 Giovanni Biggers – senior (6'1, 193) 29 Marcus Allen – freshman (6'1, 175) 30 Phillips Alvarez – freshman (5'10, 170) 31 Will Hardy – freshman (6'2, 200) 35 Jaden Selby – freshman (6'0, 175) 37 Thomas O'Sullivan – freshman (5'10, 185) 38 Val Edwards – junior (6'2, 200) 39 Zavion Woldu – sophomore (5'11, 195) 40 Major Byrd – freshman (5'9, 190)
Long snappers 43 Garrett Jordan – freshman (6'1, 225) 61 Drew Little – senior (5'11, 236) 62 Spencer Triplett – sophomore (6'3, 235)* North Carolina Tar Heels Football Roster as of 12/4/2022