We roll along with our look at the 2024 Tar Heels by turning our attention to what is the most purely talented group that the team boasts this season, the tight ends.
Junior Bryson Nesbit is the program’s top NFL Draft prospect and rightfully so after back-to-back productive seasons. He improved upon his numbers from 2022 (35 rec, 507 yds, 4 TD), catching 41 passes for 585 yards and five touchdowns, the latter of which led the team. Expect to build on those numbers this year, especially with the team needing to replace the production from Tez Walker and the redzone ability of Kamari Morales.
Senior John Copenhaver is back after injuries derailed what was setting up to be a big season for him. He was still able to play in 12 games, including starting ten of them, but he was limited to just eighteen catches on the season after breaking his hand early in the season. He still turned that into 240 yards and four touchdowns and came up with big catch after big catch all season long. With him back at full strength, this could finally be the breakout season he has been pushing for since he arrived to campus.
The third tight end in the room is sophomore Jake Johnson, who followed his brother Max over from Texas A&M. After redshirting in his first season in College Station, Johnson caught 24 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Matching those numbers should be the goal for Johnson this season with the staff likely using him in a similar role to how they used Morales over the last few seasons.
Redshirt freshman Julien Randolph is back after missing his entire true freshman season with a lower body injury. With just as much traffic ahead of him as a year ago, it’s hard to see him playing a significant role, but he will have a chance to show the staff he can be the future of the position when Copenhaver and Nesbit depart.
There will be two true freshmen that will be a part of the room this season. Ryan Ward was with the team in the spring and participated fully, while Timothy Lawson spent the time rehabbing from an injury he suffered his senior year of high school. Both should be good to go in fall camp and push to at least have special teams roles this season.
Junior Cal Tierney, sophomore Deems May III and redshirt freshman Cort Halsey fill out the unit as capable walk-ons.
Projected Depth Chart
TE
#18 Bryson Nesbit, Jr. OR
#81 John Copenhaver, Sr.
#19 Jake Johnson, So.
#80 Julien Randolph, RFr.
#16 Ryan Ward, Fr.
#82 Timmy Lawson, Fr.
#88 Deems May III, So.
#87 Cort Halsey, RFr.
#89 Cal Tierney, Jr.
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