Some news from the UNC FB squad…

UNC Football News

As head coach Butch Davis and his team prepare (or try to as they have had only three practice in 10 days to academic obligations) for their second Meineke Car Care Bowl in two years I found a tidbit, on ESPN Insider, about a couple of the defensive stars from this year’s squad. It’s Todd McShay’s first mock draft for 2010, where he has seven players from the ACC going in the first round, including junior line backer Bruce Carter and junior defensive lineman Marvin Austin. Before I go on let me just say that Carter has publicly stated that he is returning to Chapel Hill for his senior season, and that the final draft order is still not set, so take all of this with a grain of salt.

From the ESPN’s expert Carter would be the second player picked from the conference, going 18th to the Jacksonville Jaguars, with the first player being Derrick Morgan (DE – Ga Tech), at the seventh slot. Right behind Carter would be Bruce Campbell (OL – Maryland), going 20th to the New York Jets. The next two players are both from Clemson, going 23rd to the New England Patriots would be Ricky Sapp (DL) and three picks later it would be C.J. Spiller’s (RB) turn, headed to the frozen tundra of Green Bay. One pick later, as the 27th selection, we would find the second Tar Heel, Austin, who’s destination would be Cincinnati. Finally, with the second to last pick of the first round, the San Diego Chargers would be taking Jonathan Dwyer (RB – Ga Tech).

As I said before, this is way too early to be doing mock drafts, since players are still thinking about bowl games more than jumping to the next level or staying in college. However, if this was all true, all the experts that knock the ACC would have to admit that having 25% of the first round with players from the conference has to same something about the talent.

On another note, one that I hate to talk about, one of the players from Carolina’s players, freshman DE Donte Paige-Moss has been suspended and will miss the bowl game. Coach Davis said yesterday that the suspension is due to a run in that the young had with an N.C. State player after the rivalry game won by the Wolfpack on November 28. The head coach said this of the incident:

“He made a very unwise action, just pushing a guy away that was kind of taunting him and in his face,” Davis said. “We had a private conversation and talked about it.”

“I told him, ‘You’ve got to have composure. It’s frustrating and disappointing to lose a ballgame, but you can’t lose your cool.’ “

And continued by saying the following:

“He was very apologetic; he understood,” Davis said. “We’ve got a great relationship with the kids. They know there are high expectations for their actions.”

“He’s a young freshman who hasn’t been put in that kind of situation. Like all educators, everything is a teachable moment. That’s what we’ll use that as.”

While it’s never good to hear that a player has been suspended I have to say I am glad that from what coach Davis said the young man understood and has accepted he made a mistake. Hopefully, with the help from his coaches and team mates, he will move on with this having learned a very important lesson.

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