UNC players call linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel, ‘The General’ on the field. Here’s why
The play that sums up what senior North Carolina linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel has meant to the program during his four years in Chapel Hill isn’t one that would appear in a highlight reel.
Notre Dame scored on the play — a 91-yard touchdown run in fact. But there was Gemmel, who came close to making a tackle in the backfield, but got blocked off, giving chase despite being five yards behind the running back for nearly the entire length of the field.
He kept after it. He didn’t quit. He tried to make a difference.
“He plays with a really, really, high level of effort,” UNC co-defensive coordinator Jay Bateman said. “When one of your best players and one of your best leaders plays with a really high level of effort, it’s easy to make everyone else play at that level. So he’s done a great job of establishing a standard.”
Gemmel a natural leader
Gemmel is one of 21 Tar Heels playing in their final home game at Kenan Stadium on Saturday against Wofford. Carolina (5-5) needs one more win to secure bowl eligibility for a third straight year.
It’s not something the fifth-year senior takes for granted after missing the postseason in both of his first two years.
Linebacker Tomon Fox is in his sixth season at UNC. He could have graduated last season, but he took advantage of the NCAA eligibility waiver extended to all fall sports athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Fox said Gemmel displayed all the qualities that have made him a team captain this season even back when he wasn’t playing much as a redshirt freshman under coach Larry Fedora.
“He’s natural leader, that’s why we call him ‘the General’ on the field,” Fox said. “Back when we were 2-9 whatever, Gemmel was always the one trying to cheer guys up; always the one trying to still lead; keep the energy right despite what was going on around us. Jeremiah is a great captain for us, a great teammate, a great friend.”
Gemmel knew his chance was coming as the new regime took over. And with a chance to play more he also figured he needed to prepare more for what was to come. It’s how he formed a habit of studying video clips to the point of almost obsessing over it.
“I knew how good I could be, just how can I get an extra edge?” Gemmel said. “And how could I get an extra step on the opponent? And that was by watching film, getting better at film.”
Bateman said he knew Gemmel was intelligent from their meetings when the new staff was getting acclimated to the players returning. But he also only appeared in four games the 2018 season so Bateman didn’t have a lot to go off of on how he would take to the defense.
Living up to the billing
Suffice it to say, Gemmel didn’t disappoint. He’s started all 35 games of Brown’s second tenure in Chapel Hill.
“I remember like the first day of practice coming off the sideline, coming inside and watching and saying he needs to go with the first group,” Bateman said. “You could just tell he was an efficient mover. He was smart. He picked it up fast. And really, from that point forward, he’s been the mike linebacker since I’ve been here.”
Gemmel is second on the team with 57 tackles and leads the Heels with seven quarterback hurries this season. If minutes watching film were a category, he might lead the team in that too.
When teammates visit him at home, Gemmel’s been known to hold impromptu film sessions, sometimes even stopping them from playing video games in the process.
“I don’t care how long you played football, how long you’ve been in the game, how much you think you know the game, the film room never stops,” Gemmel said. “The learning it goes on and on with concepts and schemes that different offenses run.”
Gemmel is rarely ever out of position and that’s largely due to the way he studies the game. Bateman said it’ll be part of the legacy he leaves behind as he departs from UNC after the season.
“He has done a great job of establishing a standard of preparation that our players now live up to,” Bateman said. “He’s dragged guys in the film room. He’s dragged guys over to his house and over here (football facilities) to watch film. And I think our kids are understanding how much that has helped them become better on the field.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 7:00 AM.