The Tar Heels took to the field for their first practice at Providence Day School in Charlotte to begin preparations for Wednesday’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl. For thirteen players, it was also their first practice with the program.
Eleven true freshmen who officially signed with the program on Wednesday (Zion Ferguson, Davion Gause, Desmond Jackson, Michael Merdinger, Jaiden Patterson, Andrew Rosinski, Curtis Simpson, Jalon Thompson, Ryan Ward, Tyshun White and Ashton Woods) participated in their first college practice, joining five of their classmates who joined the team in the last week. Their arrivals mean that the team is waiting on just five of their 21 expected early enrollees to join the team for the winter semester.
The team’s first two transfer additions were the other two players that joined the team in Charlotte. Quarterback Max Johnson and offensive lineman Austin Blaske, who will both look to establish big roles for the team in spring, were able to get headstart on their Tar Heel careers on Saturday. Jake Johnson, the brother of Max who committed last Sunday, is the team’s only other incoming transfer at this point.
Despite being with the team, neither the incoming transfers or early enrollees will be eligible to play on Wednesday.