The Tar Heels are staring down a crucial matchup with the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday that might determine the direction of the season and they’ll have to do it without some important pieces.
Earlier this week, a UNC spokesperson confirmed that two starters and a rotational player will not play in Saturday’s game matchup in Durham.
The most significant of the two is star edge rusher Kaimon Rucker, who is attempting to return from a minor procedure on an injury suffered in the weight room. The hope was that when he went for the procedure following the Charlotte game, he would be back in time for this game. With him out, the team will have to rely on the combination of Tyler Thompson and Jaybron Harvey, which really struggled last week. Des Evans and Beau Atkinson will be the key to getting pressure off the edge and the team needs Jahvaree Ritzie to start wreaking havoc again. Being able to blitz would certainly help the team’s quest to rush the passer, but the secondary just doesn’t seem capable of allowing Collins to be aggressive.
On the other side of the ball, wide receiver Christian Hamilton is out a couple of weeks after suffering a lower body injury last week against James Madison on the play where he fumbled on the Tar Heels opening offensive drive. With him out, Chris Culliver will likely get the start and Jordan Shipp could also see added snaps. The good news is that Jacolby Criswell’s play has seemed to unlock J.J. Jones and Kobe Paysour who were struggling coming into last week and the tight end room has been very productive the last two weeks.
Running back Darwin Barlow will also miss his fourth straight game with lower body injury, meaning Davion Gause will once again be the backup to starter Omarion Hampton.
Slot receiver Nate McCollum should be back on Saturday according to the spokesperson after missing last week’s game with a lower body injury.
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