Bill Belichick highlights importance of UNC's running back depth

Two wins and three weeks. That’s what the UNC football team already has in its rearview mirror, most recently dominating ETSU, 35-3, during Saturday’s home opener.

North Carolina (2-0) generated 427 yards of offense vs. the Buccaneers, with running backs stealing the show. Sophomore back Demon June anchored the touchdown party, scoring three times on just seven carries, while Benjamin Hall ran for a team-high 49 yards and caught a Billy Edwards touchdown pass.

After the Tar Heels‘ blowout win, head coach Bill Belichick highlighted why his team’s running back depth is so important, plus how it can help as the season progresses.

“You can never have too many players,” Belichick said. “Sometimes, in September, you look at your depth and think “Oh, we’ve got a lot here.” “You get to the middle of October and November and you don’t have any depth. It can change in a hurry. We’re fortunate that we have that kind of competition, those kinds of players at that position. Hopefully, we’ll have them for a long time. Depth can be very fragile in football. You’re always a couple plays away from not having it. We’re glad we have it now, we’ll keep using it and hopefully, we can keep it that way.”

“You can never have too many players,” Belichick said. “Sometimes, in September, you look at your depth and think “Oh, we’ve got a lot here.” “You get to the middle of October and November and you don’t have any depth. It can change in a hurry. We’re fortunate that we have that kind of competition, those kinds of players at that position. Hopefully, we’ll have them for a long time. Depth can be very fragile in football. You’re always a couple plays away from not having it. We’re glad we have it now, we’ll keep using it and hopefully, we can keep it that way.”

Six different backs recorded a carry for UNC vs. ETSU (1-2): Hall, June, Jaylen McGill, Jojo Troupe, Charleston French and Crew Davis. Hall previously led North Carolina’s rushing attack in Week Zero vs. TCU, running for 36 yards, yet McGill scored his team’s lone touchdown during that 15-10 upset.

Hall, McGill and June will continue to get most of the Tar Heels‘ carries as they enter a loaded ACC schedule. With several contributors in the backfield, UNC will continue giving opponents trouble.

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