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2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal Division
CoachesNo. 15
APNo. 15
Quick facts North Carolina Tar Heels football, ACC Coastal Division champion ...
2015 North Carolina Tar Heels football
ACC Coastal Division champion
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal Division
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
Captains
Home stadiumKenan Memorial Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2014
2016 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
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
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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]

More information College recruiting, Name ...
College recruiting (2015)
Name Hometown School 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 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (77)
Corey Bell
DB		 Charlotte, NC Hough HS 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 158 lb (72 kg) - Mar 18, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (75)
J. K. Britt
ATH		 Newnan, GA Newnan HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 187 lb (85 kg) - Jun 30, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (78)
Aaron Crawford
DT		 Ashburn, VA Stone Bridge HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 303 lb (137 kg) - May 20, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (78)
Jalen Dalton
DE		 Clemmons, NC West Forsyth HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (100 kg) - Nov 13, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (84)
Nathan Elliott
QB		 Celina, TX Celina HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) - Apr 18, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (76)
Tommy Hatton
OC		 Montvale, NJ St. Joseph's HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 280 lb (130 kg) - Jun 13, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (82)
Charlie Heck
OT		 Kansas City, MO Rockhurst HS 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (110 kg) - Dec 1, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (73)
Mike Hughes
CB		 New Bern, NC New Bern HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 160 lb (73 kg) - Dec 22, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (80)
Juval Mollette
WR		 Randleman, NC Randleman HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 186 lb (84 kg) - Jun 21, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (80)
Nick Polino
OG		 Buford, GA Buford HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 270 lb (120 kg) - Jun 22, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (78)
Anthony Ratliff-Williams
QB		 Matthews, NC Butler HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) - Mar 10, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (77)
Andre Smith
LB		 Jacksonville, FL Trinity Christian HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 225 lb (102 kg) - Dec 12, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (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 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (80)
Johnathon Sutton
LB		 Swansea, SC Swansea HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 214 lb (97 kg) - Jun 21, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (80)
William Sweet
OT		 Jacksonville, FL First Coast HS 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 280 lb (130 kg) - Apr 12, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (80)
Carl Tucker
TE		 Huntersville, NC Hough HS 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 280 lb (130 kg) - Apr 12, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (81)
Mason Veal
OG		 Charlotte, NC Ardrey Kell HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 295 lb (134 kg) - Mar 28, 2014 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (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 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (82)
Overall recruit ranking:   Scout: 24    Rivals: 28    247Sports: 28    ESPN: 24
  • ‡ Refers to 40-yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  • "North Carolina Tar Heels 2015 Player Commits". ESPN. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  • "North Carolina 2015 Football Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
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Schedule

More information Date, Time ...
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 36:00 p.m.vs. South Carolina*
ESPNL 13–1751,664[2]
September 126:00 p.m.North Carolina A&T*
ESPN3W 53–1444,000[2]
September 1912:00 p.m.Illinois*
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ESPN2W 48–1441,000[2]
September 2612:30 p.m.Delaware*
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ACCRSNW 41–1439,000[2]
October 33:30 p.m.at Georgia Tech
ESPNUW 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.Dukedagger
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 TechNo. 17
ESPNW 30–27 OT65,632[2]
November 283:30 p.m.at NC StateNo. 14
ABC/ESPN2W 45–3457,600[2]
December 58:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 ClemsonNo. 10
ABCL 37–4574,514[2]
December 295:30 p.m.vs. No. 17 Baylor*No. 10
ESPNL 38–4940,418[2]
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[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

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

Vs. South Carolina

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

North Carolina A&T

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

Illinois

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

Delaware

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

At Georgia Tech

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

Wake Forest

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

Virginia

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

At Pittsburgh

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

Duke

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

Miami (FL)

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

At Virginia Tech

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

At NC State

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

vs Clemson

See also: 2015 Clemson Tigers football team and 2015 ACC Championship Game
#1 Clemson Tigers vs #8 North Carolina Tar Heels – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#1 Tigers 7 14 141045
#8 Tar Heels 9 7 71437
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at Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC

vs Baylor

See also: 2015 Baylor Bears football team and 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl
#17 Baylor Bears vs #10 North Carolina Tar Heels – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#10 North Carolina 7 10 14738
#17 Baylor 14 14 14749
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at Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium • Orlando, 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]

More information Name, Position ...
Coaches for the 2015 season[6]
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
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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]

More information Name, Position ...
Name Position Team
Quinshad DavisWide receiverDetroit Lions
Romar MorrisRunning backNew York Jets
Shakeel RashadLinebackerHouston Texans
Jeff SchoettmerLinebackerNew Orleans Saints
Landon TurnerGuardNew Orleans Saints
Marquise WilliamsQuarterbackMinnesota Vikings
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References

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