UNC football spring game showcases changes. Here’s what we learned from the exhibition

North Carolina’s football team put on its spring exhibition Saturday afternoon, and the Tar Heels largely witnessed what they were hoping to see.

Quarterback Drake Maye looked comfortable with new receivers, and the defensive front demonstrated much-needed improvement.

Sure seemed like some of the major concerns or curiosities on coach Mack Brown’s list were addressed.

Here are some of the takeaways from Kenan Stadium:

Drake Maye likes targets

Maye is going to enter the 2023 season as one of the most high-profile quarterbacks in the country. It’s going to help his cause if he has reliable targets.

There’s where transfers Tez Walker from Kent State and Nate McCollum come into the picture. Maye said he has developed comfort with the newcomers and most of the receiving cast.

“I think we’ve got five good ones and some of the (others) are coming around,” Maye said.

Brown said Walker, a West Charlotte product, and McCollum were largely lured to the Tar Heels because of Maye.

“One of the main reasons those two guys are here is because of Drake,” Brown said.

Maye’s longest pass play from the spring game went for 37 yards to McCollum.

“I’m glad we got the one deep ball out there so everybody could see,” Brown said.

McCollum also made the most impressive catch of the day later in the drive, diving for Maye’s off-the-mark throw for a 13-yard touchdown grab. Earlier, there was a 35-yard touchdown strike from Maye to Walker.

“I feel like I made a lot of good progress,” Walker said. “I played in this offense before at Kent.”

The next possession for the first-string offense went awry inside the 10-yard line. Maye overthrew Kobe Paysour in the end zone on third down and was “sacked” (though not tackled) on fourth down.

Paysour is a returnee and he was a popular option for Maye in the early portion of the scrimmage. Maye’s hookups with the newcomers might have just been an appetizer.

“It will be so much better in the fall,” Brown said.

Overall, Maye said the spring produced confidence connections for him with new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who replaced Phil Longo.

“Didn’t know how it would go with a new offensive coordinator,” Maye said.

Running back help

Maye could use a boost from a rushing attack, so Brown and Lindsey want to make that happen.

It looked like that was an emphasis Saturday.

Running back Elijah Green could get the first crack to be a go-to ball carrier. Omarion Hampton should figure into the mix as well, and he took a healthy number of carries. The biggest positive should have been front veteran British Brooks, who put together some swift moves as if to announce he’s recovered from last year’s preseason injury that forced him to sit out 2022.

The workload for Brooks was an effort to make sure his confidence is boosted.

A different defense?

If there was a constant for the scrimmage portion of Saturday’s session it was that the defensive front made a presence. Edge rusher Kaimon Rucker was responsible for much of that.

“Mostly we’ve improved up front on defense,” Brown said. “We’re quicker off the ball. … We’re penetrating more. We’re being more violent. It’s something we haven’t done.”

Those instances of defenders in the offensive backfield occurred numerous times during the spring game. That led to regular praise from Brown.

That’s a deviation from the tone last fall and earlier in the offseason. Criticism had been launched at the defensive front, so addressing that was a theme during spring workouts.

“They’ve heard it, and they’re tired of hearing it,” Brown said.

Making an impact Saturday was Leesville Road (Raleigh) product Beau Atkinson. He should be among defensive linemen contending for expanded playing time by September.

Nine wins not enough

The Tar Heels lost their last four games in a 9-5 season in 2022. That’s a sore subject for Brown.

“He keeps saying ‘9’ is not enough,” Maye said.

The late-season shortcomings concluded with a one-point Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon.

“Stepping off the field in San Diego,” Rucker said, “that definitely set a fire under us.”

North Carolina opens the season against South Carolina on Sept. 2 in Charlotte.

Notes of interest

▪ Defensive lineman Travis Shaw and defensive back Alijah Huzzie were held out of the spring game for precautionary reasons, but Brown said there’s no long-term concerns regarding their statuses.

▪ The Tar Heels went through punting drills to begin Saturday’s exercise, something UNC fans won’t be expecting to see often given expectations of the Maye-led offense.

▪ Brown offered commentary and/or analysis from on the field over the public address system during the scrimmage. Before long, he mixed in play-by-play offerings.

▪ “Today is really about evaluation of personnel and not about game planning,” Brown said. “Our guys needed to play in front of a crowd. They needed to be able to handle that.”

▪ The transfer portal for football opened Saturday. Brown was noncommittal about any interests there, though he offered that “you’re always looking for offensive linemen.”

This story was originally published April 15, 2023 at 8:00 PM.