2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

Last updated

2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football
North Carolina Tar Heels logo.svg
ACC Coastal Division champion
Russell Athletic Bowl, L 38–49 vs. Baylor
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
APNo. 15
Record11–3 (8–0 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik (1st season)
Base defense 4–3
Captains
Home stadium Kenan Memorial Stadium
Uniform
North carolina football unif17.png
Seasons
  2014
2016  
2015 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
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 (FL)  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
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

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.

Contents

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]

College recruiting information (2015)
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeight40Commit date
Jake Bargas
TE
Boca Raton, FLSt. Andrew's School6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)225 lb (102 kg)4.7Jan 19, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 3 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 77
Corey Bell
DB
Charlotte, NCHough HS5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)158 lb (72 kg)-Mar 18, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 3 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 75
J. K. Britt
ATH
Newnan, GANewnan HS5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)187 lb (85 kg)-Jun 30, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 3 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 78
Aaron Crawford
DT
Ashburn, VAStone Bridge HS6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)303 lb (137 kg)-May 20, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 4 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 3 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 78
Jalen Dalton
DE
Clemmons, NCWest Forsyth HS6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)230 lb (100 kg)-Nov 13, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 4 stars.svg     Rivals: 4 stars.svg     247Sports: 4 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 84
Nathan Elliott
QB
Celina, TXCelina HS6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg)-Apr 18, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 3 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 76
Tommy Hatton
OC
Montvale, NJSt. Joseph's HS6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)280 lb (130 kg)-Jun 13, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 4 stars.svg     Rivals: 4 stars.svg     247Sports: 4 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 82
Charlie Heck
OT
Kansas City, MORockhurst HS6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)250 lb (110 kg)-Dec 1, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 3 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 73
Mike Hughes
CB
New Bern, NCNew Bern HS5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)160 lb (73 kg)-Dec 22, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 4 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 80
Juval Mollette
WR
Randleman, NCRandleman HS6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)186 lb (84 kg)-Jun 21, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 4 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 80
Nick Polino
OG
Buford, GABuford HS6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)270 lb (120 kg)-Jun 22, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 3 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 78
Anthony Ratliff-Williams
QB
Matthews, NCButler HS6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 lb (88 kg)-Mar 10, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 4 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 3 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 77
Andre Smith
LB
Jacksonville, FLTrinity Christian HS6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)225 lb (102 kg)-Dec 12, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 3 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 79
Jason Strowbridge
DE
Deerfield Beach, FLDeerfield Beach HS6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)245 lb (111 kg)4.9Feb 2, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout: 4 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 80
Johnathon Sutton
LB
Swansea, SCSwansea HS5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)214 lb (97 kg)-Jun 21, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 4 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 80
William Sweet
OT
Jacksonville, FLFirst Coast HS6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)280 lb (130 kg)-Apr 12, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 4 stars.svg     Rivals: 4 stars.svg     247Sports: 4 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 80
Carl Tucker
TE
Huntersville, NCHough HS6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)280 lb (130 kg)-Apr 12, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 81
Mason Veal
OG
Charlotte, NCArdrey Kell HS6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)295 lb (134 kg)-Mar 28, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 3 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 3 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 80
Ty'Son Williams
RB
Sumter, SCCrestwood HS5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)202 lb (92 kg)4.6Jul 29, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout: 4 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: 4 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 82
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 24   Rivals: 28   247Sports: 28   ESPN: 24
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "North Carolina Football Commitment List (19)". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  • "North Carolina Tar Heels 2015 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  • "North Carolina 2015 Football Commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 36:00 p.m.vs. South Carolina * ESPN L 13–1751,664 [2]
September 126:00 p.m. North Carolina A&T * ESPN3 W 53–1444,000 [2]
September 1912:00 p.m. Illinois *
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ESPN2 W 48–1441,000 [2]
September 2612:30 p.m. Delaware *
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ACCRSN W 41–1439,000 [2]
October 33:30 p.m.at Georgia Tech ESPNU W 38–3150,585 [2]
October 177:00 p.m. Wake Forest
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC (rivalry)
ACCRSNW 50–1450,500 [2]
October 243:30 p.m. Virginia
ACCRSNW 26–1352,000 [2]
October 297:00 p.m.at No. 23 Pittsburgh ESPNW 26–1943,049 [2]
November 712:00 p.m. Duke Dagger-14-plain.png
ESPN2W 66–3160,000 [2]
November 143:30 p.m. Miami (FL) No. 23
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ESPNUW 59–2161,000 [2]
November 2112:00 p.m.at Virginia Tech No. 17ESPNW 30–27 OT65,632 [2]
November 283:30 p.m.at NC State No. 14 ABC/ESPN2 W 45–3457,600 [2]
December 58:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 Clemson No. 10
ABC L 37–4574,514 [2]
December 295:30 p.m.vs. No. 17 Baylor *No. 10ESPNL 38–4940,418 [2]

[3]

North Carolina is the only FBS team that played all of its 2015 regular-season games, both home and away, on grass fields. [4]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP RVRVRV2117121181015
Coaches RVRVRVRVRV2117121181115
CFP Not released2317141010Not released

Game summaries

Vs. South Carolina

1234Total
Gamecocks0100717
Tar Heels760013

North Carolina A&T

1234Total
Aggies007714
Tar Heels221417053

Illinois

1234Total
Fighting Illini070714
Tar Heels101072148

Delaware

1234Total
Fightin' Blue Hens707014
Tar Heels76141441

At Georgia Tech

1234Total
Tar Heels014101438
Yellow Jackets7147331

Wake Forest

1234Total
Demon Deacons770014
Tar Heels02971450

Virginia

1234Total
Cavaliers1030013
Tar Heels7631026

At Pittsburgh

1234Total
Tar Heels3173326
#23 Panthers3010619

Duke

1234Total
Blue Devils3714731
#21 Tar Heels211721766

Miami (FL)

1234Total
Hurricanes0071421
#17 Tar Heels72421759

At Virginia Tech

1234OTTotal
#12 Tar Heels70314630
Hokies03714327

At NC State

1234Total
#11 Tar Heels35001045
Wolfpack7791134

vs Clemson

#1 Clemson Tigers vs #8 North Carolina Tar Heels – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
#1 Tigers714141045
#8 Tar Heels9771437

at Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC

vs Baylor

#17 Baylor Bears vs #10 North Carolina Tar Heels – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
#10 North Carolina71014738
#17 Baylor141414749

at Orlando Citrus Bowl StadiumOrlando, FL

  • Date: December 29, 2015
  • Game time: 5:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 40,418
  • TV: ESPN

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. [5] 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. [6]

Coaches for the 2015 season [6]
NamePositionSeasons at North Carolina
Larry Fedora Head coach4th
Gene Chizik Defensive coordinator1st
Gunter Brewer Co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers4th (9th overall)
Chris Kapilovic Co-offensive coordinator/offensive line2nd (4th overall)
Seth Littrell Assistant head coach for offense/tight ends2nd
Keith Heckendorf Quarterbacks2nd
John Papuchis Linebackers coach1st
Tray Scott Defensive line coach1st
Charlton Warren Defensive backs coach1st
Lou HernandezStrength and conditioning coordinator4th

Awards

All-Conference selections

[7]

All-American selections

NFL draft

For the second year in a row, North Carolina did not have any players selected in the NFL draft. [8]

The following players signed as undrafted free agents: [9]

NamePositionTeam
Quinshad Davis Wide receiver Detroit Lions
Romar Morris Running back New York Jets
Shakeel Rashad Linebacker Houston Texans
Jeff SchoettmerLinebacker New Orleans Saints
Landon Turner Guard New Orleans Saints
Marquise Williams Quarterback Minnesota Vikings

References

  1. Barbour, Brian (January 7, 2015). "UNC Announces Ten Early Enrollees in Football". SB Nation . Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "2016 UNC Football Media Guide" (PDF).
  3. "2015 North Carolina Tar Heels Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  4. Forde, Pat (July 6, 2015). "40 Schedule Observations for This College Football Season". Yahoo! Sports . Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  5. Fornelli, Tom (January 19, 2015). "North Carolina Officially Hires Gene Chizik as Defensive Coordinator". CBS Sports . Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "UNC Football Coaching Staff". University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill Department of Athletics. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  7. "ACSMA Announces 2015 All-ACC Teams". theacc.com. 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  8. Jaouhari, Khaled. "North Carolina Football: NFL draft shutout and free-agent signings". ISportsWeb. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  9. "Six Tar Heels Earn NFL Opportunity". GoHeels.com. Retrieved May 6, 2016.