# 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

The 2009 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 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Butch Davis, the Tar Heels played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina finished the season 8–5 overall and 4–4 in ACC play to place fourth in the Coastal Division. The Tar Heels lost to Pittsburgh in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. In 2011, North Carolina vacated all its wins from the 2008 season and 2009 seasons.

## Preseason
### Key losses

On January 5, 2009 starting wide-receiver Hakeem Nicks announced that he would forgo his senior year in order to enter the 2009 NFL draft. In just three years Nicks had set 14 school records, including career receptions (181), career receiving yards (2,580), and career touchdowns (21). In his senior season, Nicks was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after catching 68 passes for 1,222 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was the only player in UNC history with more than 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
The following are some of the other key players who will no longer play for North Carolina in the 2009 season:

### Key returns

For 2009, the Tar Heels are likely to return numerous starters from the previous season. The following players will maintain their playing eligibility and in all likelihood will return for the season:
Special teams:
* Casey Barth (K), returning leader in field goals made (10)
* Jay Wooten (K), returning leader in kick-offs (71)

## Recruiting

As of February 6, 2009, Scout.com rated North Carolina's 2009 recruiting class as 5th in the nation, Rivals.com ranked North Carolina's recruiting class as 6th, and ESPN ranked 12th. Joshua Adams (WR) and Kevin Reddick (LB) plan to enroll in January 2009 and do not count against the limit of 25 recruits per year. The other following players have offered North Carolina non-binding verbal commitments. These pledges can become binding when recruits sign their National Letters of Intent on February 4, 2009.
College recruiting information (2009) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Joshua Adams WR | Cheshire, CT | Cheshire Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.5 | Feb 7, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Hawatha Bell LB | Matthews, NC | David W. Butler HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | 4.49 | Nov 22, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| A.J. Blue ATH | Dallas, NC | Hargrave Military Academy | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.6 | Aug 9, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Travis Bond OL | Windsor, NC | Bertie HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 320 lb (150 kg) | 5.2 | Jan 19, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Jheranie Boyd WR | Gastonia, NC | Ashbrook HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.43 | Nov 6, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Prizell Brown TE | Brenham, TX | Blinn College | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 259 lb (117 kg) | 4.65 | Nov 25, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A |||||||
| D.J. Bunn DB | Smithfield, NC | Smithfield-Selma HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.63 | Feb 16, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Curtis Campbell DB | Chesapeake, VA | Grassfield HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.47 | Jul 31, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| David Collins OL | Kernersville, NC | East Forsyth HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | 5.3 | Mar 6, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 69 |||||||
| Ray Ray Davis WR | Monroe, NC | Sun Valley HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 197 lb (89 kg) | 4.6 | Feb 16, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Justin Dixon LB | Smithfield, NC | Smithfield-Selma HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | 4.5 | Feb 16, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Johnnie Farms OL | Perry, GA | Perry HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 306 lb (139 kg) | 5.2 | Nov 23, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| C.J. Feagles P | Ridgewood, NJ | Ridgewood HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | N/A | Jun 27, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Hunter Furr ATH | Lewisville, NC | Mount Tabor HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 204 lb (93 kg) | 4.4 | Feb 16, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Angelo Hadley DB | Seffner, FL | Armwood HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.5 | Dec 18, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Erik Highsmith WR | Vanceboro, NC | West Craven HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 4.45 | Oct 22, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Josh Hunter DB | Charlotte, NC | Mallard Creek HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.4 | Oct 9, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Mywan Jackson DB | Seffner, FL | Armwood HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 4.5 | Jan 8, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Jared McAdoo DT | Chapel Hill, NC | Chapel Hill HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | 5.06 | Mar 3, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Josh McKie ATH | Mauldin, SC | Mauldin HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.5 | Feb 17, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Donte Paige-Moss DE | Jacksonville, NC | Northside HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | 4.58 | Mar 10, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 82 |||||||
| Shane Mularkey LB | Norcross, GA | Greater Atlanta CS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | Jul 7, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Kevin Reddick LB | New Bern, NC | Hargrave Military Academy | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | 4.65 | Aug 9, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Bryn Renner QB | West Springfield, VA | West Springfield HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.75 | Mar 26, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 81 |||||||
| Jerrell Rhodes RB | Durham, NC | CE Jordan HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.48 | Sep 29, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Gene Robinson DB | Memphis, TN | Whitehaven HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 4.5 | Jan 19, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Terry Shankle DB | Norwood, NC | South Stanly HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 4.43 | Nov 24, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Donavan Tate ATH | Cartersville, GA | Cartersville HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.5 | Dec 3, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 82 |||||||
| Brennan Williams OL | West Roxbury, MA | Catholic Memorial | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | 4.97 | Jan 3, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 5 Rivals: 6 |||||||
| ‡ 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 Commit List for 2009". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 11, 2009. "RecruitTracker 2008: North Carolina". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 11, 2009. "2009 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 11, 2009. |||||||

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Seasons in Position |
| Butch Davis | Head coach | 3rd |
| John Blake | Associate head coach / recruiting coordinator / defensive line | 3rd |
| Ken Browning | Running backs | 16th |
| Jeff Connors | Strength and conditioning coordinator | 9th |
| Steve Hagen | Tight Ends | 3rd |
| John Lovett | Special teams coordinator / Defensive Assistant | 3rd |
| Sam Pittman | Offensive Line | 3rd |
| John Shoop | Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks | 3rd |
| Tommy Thigpen | Linebackers | 5th |
| Charlie Williams | Wide Receivers | 3rd |
| Everett Withers | Defensive coordinator / defensive backs | 2nd |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 5 | 6:00 p.m. | The Citadel* | No. 21 | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ESPN360 Bob Picozzi, Paul Maguire | W 40–6 (vacated) | 58,500 |
| September 12 | 12:00 p.m. | at Connecticut* | No. 19 | Rentschler FieldEast Hartford, CT | ESPNU Clay Matvick, David Diaz-Infante | W 12–10 (vacated) | 38,087 |
| September 19 | 12:00 p.m. | East Carolina* | No. 24 | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ESPN2 Pam Ward, Ray Bentley | W 31–17 (vacated) | 58,000 |
| September 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | No. 22 | Bobby Dodd StadiumAtlanta, GA | Raycom Steve Martin, Rick Walker, Mike Hogewood | L 7–24 | 50,114 |
| October 3 | 12:00 p.m. | Virginia | | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC (South's Oldest Rivalry) | Raycom Steve Martin, Rick Walker, Mike Hogewood | L 3–16 | 57,500 |
| October 10 | 3:30 p.m. | Georgia Southern* | | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ESPN360 Ryan Rose, Jeremy Bloom | W 42–12 (vacated) | 47,000 |
| October 22 | 8:00 p.m. | Florida State | | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ESPN Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer, Erin Andrews | L 27–30 | 58,000 |
| October 29 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 14 Virginia Tech | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ESPN Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer, Erin Andrews | W 20–17 (vacated) | 66,233 |
| November 7 | 3:30 p.m. | Duke | | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC (Victory Bell) | ESPNU Todd Harris, JC Pearson | W 19–6 (vacated) | 59,750 |
| November 14 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 12 Miami (FL) | | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ABC/ESPN Bob Wischusen, Brian Griese | W 33–24 (vacated) | 57,500 |
| November 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at Boston College | | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA | ESPN2 Pam Ward, Ray Bentley | W 31–13 (vacated) | 41,272 |
| November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at NC State | No. 23 | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC (rivalry) | ESPN2 Pam Ward, Ray Bentley | L 27–28 | 57,583 |
| December 26 | 4:30 p.m. | vs. No. 17 Pittsburgh* | | Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC (Meineke Car Care Bowl) | ESPN/ISP Sports Bob Wischusen, Bob Griese, Chris Spielman, Quint Kessenich/Alan York, Sonny Randle | L 17–19 | 50,389 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||||

## Game summaries
### The Citadel

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| The Citadel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| #20 North Carolina | 0 | 23 | 7 | 10 | 40 |
North Carolina had its best rushing game under coach Butch Davis with 260 total rushing yards (its most since 2004), and Shaun Draughn rushing for 118 yards, his fourth 100-yard rushing game. T. J. Yates threw two touchdown passes and threw for 114 yards.

### UConn

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #19 North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| UConn | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
North Carolina managed to come back by scoring 12 points against Connecticut in the fourth quarter to win the game. North Carolina gained its final two points when Connecticut's senior tackle Dan Ryan was flagged for holding North Carolina's end Robert Quinn in the end zone, which gave North Carolina a safety, with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter.

### ECU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| East Carolina | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| #19 North Carolina | 7 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 31 |

### Georgia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #18 North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Georgia Tech | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |

### Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Virginia | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |

### Georgia Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Georgia Southern | 7 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 |
| North Carolina | 14 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 42 |

### Florida State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 3 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 30 |
| North Carolina | 14 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 27 |

### Virginia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| North Carolina | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
| #14 Virginia Tech | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 |

### Duke

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Duke | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 19 |

### Miami

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #14 Miami | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 20 | 3 | 10 | 33 |
Miami and North Carolina last met at Miami on September 27, 2008 in a game won by UNC 28–24. Miami is 5–7 all time versus UNC.

### Boston College

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| North Carolina | 21 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 31 |
| Boston College | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
The Tar Heels defeated a Boston College team that was playing for an outside shot at a trip to the ACC Championship Game. The UNC defense stifled the Eagles offense for much of the game, holding them to 0 conversions on 13 3rd down attempts. Freshman Boston College quarterback David Shinskie threw for more yards to the Tar Heels defenders than to his own team. His four interceptions were returned for a total of 133 yards, while his twelve completions gained only 101 yards. Tar Heels DB Kendric Burney's interception return for a touchdown was his second in as many games. Cam Thomas added another defensive touchdown on a fumble return. UNC's offense had four turnovers of their own (3 T. J. Yates interceptions, 1 fumble by Erik Highsmith), and struggled to move the ball for much of the game. The UNC running attack was slowed due to a lower extremity injury to Ryan Houston who was sidelined for most of the second half. However, he did return for a 1-yard touchdown run. UNC's stout defense once again came up with big plays in the Tar Heel's fourth straight win.

### North Carolina State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| North Carolina | 3 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| North Carolina State | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |

### Pittsburgh–Meineke Car Care Bowl

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| North Carolina | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 21 | 19 | 24 | 22 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | 23 | RV | RV | — |
| Coaches | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | RV | — | RV | RV | — | RV | RV | 25 | 24 | RV | RV | — |
| Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | RV | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | Not released |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | Not released |