2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football | |
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ACC Coastal Division champion | |
ACC Championship Game, L 37–45 vs. Clemson | |
Russell Athletic Bowl, L 38–49 vs. Baylor | |
Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
Coastal | |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 15 |
AP | No. 15 |
2015 record | 11–3 (8–0 ACC) |
Head coach |
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Co-offensive coordinator | Gunter Brewer (2nd season) |
Co-offensive coordinator | Chris Kapilovic (2nd season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Gene Chizik (1st season) |
Base defense | 4–3 |
Captain | Marquise Williams, Landon Turner, Shakeel Rashad, Jeff Schoettmer, Mack Hollins |
Home stadium | Kenan Memorial Stadium (capacity: 62,980) |
Uniform | |
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2015 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Atlantic Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 Clemson x$^ | 8 | – | 0 | 14 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 14 Florida State | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisville | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NC State | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Syracuse | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wake Forest | 1 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boston College | 0 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coastal Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 15 North Carolina x | 8 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pittsburgh | 6 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miami | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duke | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia Tech | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia Tech | 1 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Clemson 45, North Carolina 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Larry Fedora and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. North Carolina finished the season 11–3 overall and 8–0 in ACC play to win the ACC Coastal Division title. They represented the Coastal Division in the ACC Championship Game, where they lost to Atlantic Division champion Clemson. They were invited to the Russell Athletic Bowl, where they lost to Baylor.
Recruiting[]
National Signing Day was on February 4, 2015 and was the first chance for high school seniors to officially declare which university or college they will be attending for their college career. North Carolina had 19 high school seniors sign a National Letter of Intent to play football with them. Of the class, 10 athletes enrolled early to UNC.[1]
US college sports recruiting information for 2015 recruits | ||||||
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Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
Jake Bargas TE |
Boca Raton, FL | St. Andrew's School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 4.7 | Jan 19, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Corey Bell DB |
Charlotte, NC | Hough HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 158 lb (72 kg) | - | Mar 18, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
J. K. Britt ATH |
Newnan, GA | Newnan HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | - | Jun 30, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Aaron Crawford DT |
Ashburn, VA | Stone Bridge HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 303 lb (137 kg) | - | May 20, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Jalen Dalton DE |
Clemmons, NC | West Forsyth HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | - | Nov 13, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Nathan Elliott QB |
Celina, TX | Celina HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | - | Apr 18, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Tommy Hatton OC |
Montvale, NJ | St. Joseph's HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | - | Jun 13, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Charlie Heck OT |
Kansas City, MO | Rockhurst HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | - | Dec 1, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Mike Hughes CB |
New Bern, NC | New Bern HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | - | Dec 22, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Juval Mollette WR |
Randleman, NC | Randleman HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 186 lb (84 kg) | - | Jun 21, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Nick Polino OG |
Buford, GA | Buford HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | - | Jun 22, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Anthony Ratliff-Williams QB |
Matthews, NC | Butler HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | - | Mar 10, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Andre Smith LB |
Jacksonville, FL | Trinity Christian HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | - | Dec 12, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Jason Strowbridge DE |
Deerfield Beach, FL | Deerfield Beach HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | 4.9 | Feb 2, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Johnathon Sutton LB |
Swansea, SC | Swansea HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 214 lb (97 kg) | - | Jun 21, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
William Sweet OT |
Jacksonville, FL | First Coast HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | - | Apr 12, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Carl Tucker TE |
Huntersville, NC | Hough HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | - | Apr 12, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Mason Veal OG |
Charlotte, NC | Ardrey Kell HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | - | Mar 28, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Ty'Son Williams RB |
Sumter, SC | Crestwood HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 202 lb (92 kg) | 4.6 | Jul 29, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 24 Rivals: 28 247Sports: 28 ESPN: 24 | ||||||
Sources:
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Coaching staff[]
North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora entered his fourth year as the North Carolina's head coach for the 2015 season. After ranking as one of the worst defenses in the country in 2014, Fedora completely revamped the Tar Heel defensive coaching staff. Fedora hired Gene Chizik as the new defensive coordinator.[2] Chizik was most recently the head coach at Auburn, where he led the Tigers to a national championship in 2011. With the coaching change, UNC also switched from a 4-2-5 base defense to a 4–3 defense. Other defensive coaching hires include John Papuchis, former defensive coordinator at Nebraska, as linebackers coach, Tray Scott as defensive line coach, and Charlton Warren as defensive backs coach.[3]
Name | Position | Seasons at North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Larry Fedora | Head Coach | 4th |
Gene Chizik | Defensive Coordinator | 1st |
Gunter Brewer | Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers | 4th (9th overall) |
Chris Kapilovic | Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line | 2nd (4th overall) |
Seth Littrell | Assistant Head Coach for Offense/Tight Ends | 2nd |
Keith Heckendorf | Quarterbacks | 2nd |
John Papuchis | Linebackers Coach | 1st |
Tray Scott | Defensive Line Coach | 1st |
Charlton Warren | Defensive Backs Coach | 1st |
Lou Hernandez | Strength and Conditioning Coordinator | 4th |
Schedule[]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 3 | 6:00 p.m. | vs. South Carolina* |
| ESPN | L 13–17 | 51,664 | |
September 12 | 6:00 p.m. | North Carolina A&T* |
| ESPN3 | W 53–14 | 44,000 | |
September 19 | 12:00 p.m. | Illinois* |
| ESPN2 | W 48–14 | 41,000 | |
September 26 | 12:30 p.m. | Delaware* |
| ACCRSN | W 41–14 | 39,000 | |
October 3 | 3:30 p.m. | at Georgia Tech |
| ESPNU | W 38–31 | 50,585 | |
October 17 | 7:00 p.m. | Wake Forest |
| ACCRSN | W 50–14 | 50,500 | |
October 24 | 3:30 p.m. | Virginia |
| ACCRSN | W 26–13 | 52,000 | |
October 29 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 23 Pittsburgh |
| ESPN | W 26–19 | 43,049 | |
November 7 | 12:00 p.m. | Duke![]() | No. 21 |
| ESPN2 | W 66–31 | 60,500 |
November 14 | 3:30 p.m. | Miami (FL) | No. 17 |
| ESPNU | W 59–21 | 61,000 |
November 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at Virginia Tech | No. 12 |
| ESPN | W 30–27 OT | 65,632 |
November 28 | 3:30 p.m. | at NC State | No. 11 |
| ABC/ESPN2 | W 45–34 | 57,600 |
December 5 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 1 Clemson | No. 8 |
| ABC | L 37–45 | 74,514 |
December 29 | 5:30 p.m. | vs. No. 17 Baylor* | No. 10 |
| ESPN | L 38–49 | 40,418 |
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North Carolina is the only FBS team that played all of its 2015 regular-season games, both home and away, on grass fields.[5]
Game summaries[]
vs. South Carolina[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gamecocks | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Tar Heels | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
North Carolina A&T[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aggies | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Tar Heels | 22 | 14 | 17 | 0 | 53 |
Illinois[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighting Illini | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Tar Heels | 10 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 48 |
Delaware[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fightin' Blue Hens | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Tar Heels | 7 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 41 |
at Georgia Tech[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tar Heels | 0 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 38 |
Yellow Jackets | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
Wake Forest[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demon Deacons | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Tar Heels | 0 | 29 | 7 | 14 | 50 |
Virginia[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cavaliers | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Tar Heels | 7 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 26 |
at Pittsburgh[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tar Heels | 3 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 26 |
#23 Panthers | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 19 |
Duke[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Devils | 3 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
#21 Tar Heels | 21 | 17 | 21 | 7 | 66 |
Miami (FL)[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hurricanes | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
#17 Tar Heels | 7 | 24 | 21 | 7 | 59 |
at Virginia Tech[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#12 Tar Heels | 7 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 30 |
Hokies | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 27 |
at NC State[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#11 Tar Heels | 35 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 45 |
Wolfpack | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 34 |
vs Clemson[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Tigers | 7 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 45 |
#8 Tar Heels | 9 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 37 |
at Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC
- Date: December 5, 2015
- Game time: 8:00 p.m.
- TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Heather Cox (sideline)
- Sources:
vs Baylor[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#10 North Carolina | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
#17 Baylor | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
at Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium • Orlando, FL
- Date: December 29, 2015
- Game time: 5:30 p.m.
- Game attendance: 40,418
- TV: ESPN
- Sources:
Rankings[]
Week | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
AP | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | RV | RV | RV | 21 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Coaches | RV | NR | NR | NR | NR | RV | RV | RV | RV | 21 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
CFP | Not released | NR | 23 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 10 | Not released |
Postseason[]
All-Conference Selections[]
• Elijah Hood - Running Back • Landon Turner - Guard
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• Marquise Williams - Quarterback • Mack Hollins - Wide Receiver • Jon Heck - Offensive Tackle • Caleb Peterson - Guard • M. J. Stewart - Cornerback • Ryan Switzer - Specialist
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• Ryan Switzer - Wide Receiver • Quinshad Davis - Wide Receiver • Lucas Crowley - Center • Nazair Jones - Defensive Tackle • Shakeel Rashad - Linebacker • Des Lawrence - Cornerback |
All-American Selections[]
- Landon Turner, Offensive Line (AP, Athlon)
- Ryan Switzer, All-purpose / return specialist (AFCA)
NFL Draft[]
For the second year in a row, North Carolina did not have any players selected in the NFL Draft.[7]
The following players signed as undrafted free agents:[8]
Name | Position | Team |
---|---|---|
Quinshad Davis | Wide Receiver | Detroit Lions |
Romar Morris | Running Back | New York Jets |
Shakeel Rashad | Linebacker | Houston Texans |
Jeff Schoettmer | Linebacker | New Orleans Saints |
Landon Turner | Guard | New Orleans Saints |
Marquise Williams | Quarterback | Minnesota Vikings |
References[]
- ^ Barbour, Brian (January 7, 2015). "UNC Announces Ten Early Enrollees in Football". SB Nation. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ Fornelli, Tom (January 19, 2015). "North Carolina Officially Hires Gene Chizik as Defensive Coordinator". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
- ^ a b "UNC Football Coaching Staff". University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill Department of Athletics. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
- ^ "2015 North Carolina Tar Heels Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ Forde, Pat (July 6, 2015). "40 Schedule Observations for This College Football Season". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ "ACSMA Announces 2015 All-ACC Teams". theacc.com. 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- ^ Jaouhari, Khaled. "North Carolina Football: NFL draft shutout and free-agent signings". ISportsWeb. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "Six Tar Heels Earn NFL Opportunity". GoHeels.com. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- 2015 Atlantic Coast Conference football season
- North Carolina Tar Heels football seasons
- 2015 in sports in North Carolina