Heel Tough Blog: Two Tar Heel CBs Out Indefinitely
The Tar Heels came into Saturday afternoon with some major injury issues on the defensive side of the football and suffered two important ones in the secondary during the win over Pittsburgh.
It started with nickel corner Kaleb Cost, who ran into the concrete wall behind the end zone on a first quarter pass play where he was making a play on the ball. He crashed hard hitting his right leg and face against the wall, but the broadcast cited the knee as what was being evaluated by the training staff. On Sunday evening, Noah Weiskopf of TarHeel247 reported that his immediate status is uncertain.
As for Tre Miller, it appears like he will be out the longest. According to a Facebook post from his grandmother on Saturday evening, the junior corner who started the game opposite of Jaiden Patterson suffered an ankle injury that required surgery. The injury occurred on the return of his interception in the third quarter where he appeared to get rolled up on as he was tackled. Weiskopf is reporting that multiple sources have told him and TarHeel247 that Miller is “doubtful to return this season”.
Both of these are pretty significant blows to a secondary that has had their issues when at full strength so far this season. In the nickel spot, Ade Willie saw his first snaps as a Tar Heel and played well, so the hope is that he can hold things down there until Cost returns, if he does. As for that outside corner spot, true freshman Kenton Dopson III saw a lot of reps early on Saturday and really struggled, allowing 76 yards and a 118.8 QB rating when targeted. His struggles led to Jalon Thompson getting some significant snaps, where he held up a lot better and helped the Tar Heels come away with the victory. That combo will handle things the rest of the way and the hope is that they can find a way to not get picked apart by some of the passing games that the team will face down the stretch of the season.
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