2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

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2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football
ACC Coastal Division champion
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
APNo. 15
Record11–3 (8–0 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSeth Littrell (2nd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorGene Chizik (1st season)
Base defense4–3
CaptainMarquise Williams, Landon Turner, Shakeel Rashad, Jeff Schoettmer, Mack Hollins
Home stadiumKenan Memorial Stadium
Uniform
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.

Recruiting[edit]

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
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 77
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 75
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 78
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:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 78
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:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 84
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 76
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:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 73
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 78
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:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 77
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 79
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:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
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:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
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:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 81
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
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:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   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.

Coaching staff[edit]

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]

Coaches for the 2015 season[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[edit]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 36:00 p.m.vs. South Carolina*
ESPNL 13–1751,664[4]
September 126:00 p.m.North Carolina A&T*
ESPN3W 53–1444,000[4]
September 1912:00 p.m.Illinois*
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ESPN2W 48–1441,000[4]
September 2612:30 p.m.Delaware*
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ACCRSNW 41–1439,000[4]
October 33:30 p.m.at Georgia Tech
ESPNUW 38–3150,585[4]
October 177:00 p.m.Wake Forest
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC (rivalry)
ACCRSNW 50–1450,500[4]
October 243:30 p.m.Virginia
ACCRSNW 26–1352,000[4]
October 297:00 p.m.at No. 23 Pittsburgh
ESPNW 26–1943,049[4]
November 712:00 p.m.Dukedagger
ESPN2W 66–3160,000[4]
November 143:30 p.m.Miami (FL)No. 23
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ESPNUW 59–2161,000[4]
November 2112:00 p.m.at Virginia TechNo. 17
ESPNW 30–27 OT65,632[4]
November 283:30 p.m.at NC StateNo. 14
ABC/ESPN2W 45–3457,600[4]
December 58:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 ClemsonNo. 10
ABCL 37–4574,514[4]
December 295:30 p.m.vs. No. 17 Baylor*No. 10
ESPNL 38–4940,418[4]

[5]

North Carolina is the only FBS team that played all of its 2015 regular-season games, both home and away, on grass fields.[6]

Game summaries[edit]

Vs. South Carolina[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 0 10 0 7 17
Tar Heels 7 6 0 0 13
See also: 2015 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

North Carolina A&T[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Aggies 0 0 7 7 14
Tar Heels 22 14 17 0 53
See also: 2015 North Carolina A&T Aggies football team

Illinois[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Fighting Illini 0 7 0 7 14
Tar Heels 10 10 7 21 48
See also: 2015 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

Delaware[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Fightin' Blue Hens 7 0 7 0 14
Tar Heels 7 6 14 14 41
See also: 2015 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

At Georgia Tech[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Tar Heels 0 14 10 14 38
Yellow Jackets 7 14 7 3 31
See also: 2015 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

Wake Forest[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 7 7 0 0 14
Tar Heels 0 29 7 14 50
See also: 2015 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team and North Carolina–Wake Forest rivalry

Virginia[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Cavaliers 10 3 0 0 13
Tar Heels 7 6 3 10 26
See also: 2015 Virginia Cavaliers football team and South's Oldest Rivalry

At Pittsburgh[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Tar Heels 3 17 3 3 26
#23 Panthers 3 0 10 6 19
See also: 2015 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

Duke[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Blue Devils 3 7 14 7 31
#21 Tar Heels 21 17 21 7 66
See also: 2015 Duke Blue Devils football team and Victory Bell (Duke–North Carolina)

Miami (FL)[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Hurricanes 0 0 7 14 21
#17 Tar Heels 7 24 21 7 59
See also: 2015 Miami Hurricanes football team

At Virginia Tech[edit]

1 2 3 4OT Total
#12 Tar Heels 7 0 3 146 30
Hokies 0 3 7 143 27
See also: 2015 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

At NC State[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
#11 Tar Heels 35 0 0 10 45
Wolfpack 7 7 9 11 34
See also: 2015 NC State Wolfpack football team and North Carolina–NC State football rivalry

vs Clemson[edit]

See also: 2015 Clemson Tigers football team and 2015 ACC Championship Game
#1 Clemson Tigers vs #8 North Carolina Tar Heels – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#1 Tigers 7 14 141045
#8 Tar Heels 9 7 71437

at Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC

vs Baylor[edit]

See also: 2015 Baylor Bears football team and 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl
#17 Baylor Bears vs #10 North Carolina Tar Heels – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#10 North Carolina 7 10 14738
#17 Baylor 14 14 14749

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[edit]

Further information: 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP——————RVRVRV2117121181015
CoachesRV————RVRVRVRV2117121181115
CFPNot released—2317141010Not released

Postseason[edit]

All-Conference Selections[edit]

[7]

All-American Selections[edit]

NFL draft[edit]

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]

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[edit]

  1. ^ Barbour, Brian (January 7, 2015). "UNC Announces Ten Early Enrollees in Football". SB Nation. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  2. ^ Fornelli, Tom (January 19, 2015). "North Carolina Officially Hires Gene Chizik as Defensive Coordinator". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "UNC Football Coaching Staff". University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill Department of Athletics. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "2016 UNC Football Media Guide" (PDF).
  5. ^ "2015 North Carolina Tar Heels Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  6. ^ Forde, Pat (July 6, 2015). "40 Schedule Observations for This College Football Season". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 8, 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.
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