Last week, the Tar Heels announced that wide receiver Kobe Paysour would be returning from an injury that cost him the final seven games of the regular season.
His return lasted less than one week, though, as the team revealed today that he will not be playing in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl next Wednesday after sustaining another injury in practice on Monday. Paysour, who broke one of his feet earlier this year, broke his other one, a brutal blow for the sophomore who was expected to be able to help redshirt freshman Conner Harrell, who will be getting his first career start.
Prior to his first foot injury, Paysour was one of the team’s top receivers, catching 22 of his 27 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. He led the team in receiving in the season opener and also caught a team-high eight passes in the game against Appalachian State. Bowl games have been a place where Paysour has shined. He led the team in receiving a year ago in the Holiday Bowl, catching seven passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
With Paysour out again, the team will be leaning heavily on J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum to carry this passing game. The team must also find someone they can start opposite of Jones at that outside receiver position. Sophomore Gavin Blackwell was the guy who start opposite of him in the opener in Charlotte and will likely be where the team turns, but expect true freshman Chris Culliver, who has impressed the staff since his arrival back in the summer to get an opportunity as well. With all of the injuries that the team is dealing with at tight end, that group would be able to provide much help, so this could be a game where the Tar Heels lean heavily on one of the best running backs in college football while they just try to patch things together in the passing game.