Monday was news dumped day for the Tar Heels as the program announced that nine players will not play in the bowl game, four of which are players heading to the draft.
One of those four is center Corey Gaynor, who the program announced won’t play in his final game as a Tar Heel on December 27th. Gaynor will begin his preparations for April’s NFL Draft where he will hope to hear his name called.
Gaynor, who transferred to Carolina prior to last year, started all 26 games that the team has played in the last two seasons and has been one of the team’s better offensive lineman. In his two seasons at Carolina, he played 1,962 snaps, allowed 4.0 sacks and 22 quarterback pressures. This season was the best of his career according to Pro Football Focus as he graded out with his best pass blocking grade (74.9), run blocking grade (63.3) and overall grade (65.5).
With Gaynor out, the Tar Heels will almost certainly kick guard Willie Lampkin inside to center after he started every game there a year ago at the position for Coastal Carolina. That would elevate William Barnes back into the starting lineup at right guard, a spot that he started at in place of an injured Lampkin earlier this season. If the Tar Heels choose to keep Lampkin at guard, they would then rely on walk-on Chance Carroll.