UNC defensive line bulks up with return of Tyler Powell

CHAPEL HILL — The North Carolina football team will get some reinforcement for its undermanned defensive line on Saturday with the return of Tyler Powell for its home opener against James Madison. The junior defensive end was listed as a starter for the Tar Heels’ game against Georgia two weeks ago, but did not play despite making the trip to Atlanta with the team. He subsequently left the team briefly for “personal reasons,” but returned to practice on Monday. “Tyler is working back into the rotation,” Fedora said Wednesday on the ACC’s weekly coaches teleconference. “Depending on how he does in practice this week will determine on how many reps he gets.” A second UNC football player dealing with “personal issues,” freshman guard Tommy Hatton, is also back at practice but apparently not yet ready to return to action. Powell, at 6-foot-4, 275 pounds, would add some badly needed bulk to a UNC defensive front that was pushed around by Georgia and gave up a 65-yard touchdown run on the opening series of last week’s win at Illinois. The two young ends that have manned the position in Powell’s absence — sophomore Malik Carney and true freshman Tomon Fox — are both undersized at just 230 and 235 pounds respectively. Though both have physical limitations, linebacker Andre Smith said that they and the rest of the defensive line played well at Illinois after recovering from the early big play. “They definitely handled their gaps,” Smith said. “They’ve improved a lot.” No one on the defense has made more of a jump over the first two weeks than Fox, a player that might have been redshirted had it not been for an injury that continues to sideline junior Dajaun Drennon and Powell’s unexpected absence. Instead, he was on the field for more than 50 snaps against Illinois, recording four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. “He’s one of those young guys that when we recruited him, we felt like he’s got a chance to be a good player and a guy who could contribute early,” defensive coordinator Gene Chizik said. “To be honest I didn’t think he would play 50-some odd plays, but that’s where we are.” Fox figures to continue seeing significant playing time, at least until Drennon is ready to return. According to Chizik, Drennon is “making strides, but still a ways off” from returning to action. Despite playing an FCS opponent with the benefit of a home crowd behind them, the Tar Heels may need all the defensive help they can get against a JMU offense that is averaging 68 points and 405 rushing yards through its first two games this season. The Dukes have already had four different backs rush for 100 yards in a game in lopsided victories against Morehead State and Central Connecticut State. “You’d think it’s like a Wing T offense or Georgia Tech triple option, but it’s not,” UNC Chizik said. “Their offense is actually very similar to ours. They’ve just got three really good running backs and they’re just clicking. They have a good scheme and some really good players.”