For the Rude Boyz of the Carolina defense, last season’s mantra wasn’t “Next Man Up” so much as it was “Last Man Standing.” Injuries decimated the secondary. Six DBs missed a combined 50 games due to injury last season. The Tar Heels had to go deep into the Mariana Trench into the depth chart, forcing a linebacker to play at nickelback for significant portions of the season.
With the summer to recuperate, plus some exciting freshman additions, Carolina’s defensive backs figure now to be a position of strength for the defense. During preseason practice, Auburn transfer Cam’Ron Kelly spoke on the competition for places and playing time amongst the Tar Heel defensive backs:
“All our DBs can play, for-real for-real.