⚡ CFB Dashboard

CHAPEL HILL – Three Tar Heels met with the media on Monday in advance of North Carolina's home opener on Saturday against East Tennessee State. Captains Derek McDonald, Ben Hall, and Christo Kelly fielded questions about their performances in the 15-10 win over TCU to open the season, aspects of their position groups and the team, and more. Below are all three Q&A sessions along with a few tidbits from what they had to say:  ***LAST DAY - TarHeel247 75% Off Fall Football Kickoff/Labor Day Sale***   Derek McDonald, Gr LB *He is pleased with how the team played in coming out with a win over TCU, but emphasized, "We still have a lot of work to do and a lot of things we can get better at." *McDonald spent his entire college career at Syracuse before transferring to UNC last winter. He was asked on Monday for his impressions on the culture at Carolina. "If you look at the guys we brought in, the guys that were on the roster from last year, we have a lot of guys that just really want to work and want to get better and win games. I think we have a really strong culture." *In addition, McDonald spoke about whether he would have rather played a game this past Saturday after the Ireland travel or have the open date; about the adjustments made against TCU and what they learned watching the film; in-game communication with LB Peyton Seelmann; what the identity of the defense is and more.   Ben Hall, RS Jr RB *Carolina's starting offensive line spent no time together last year, and even the one-time returning starters – Christo Kelly and Aidan Banfield – were injured and missed most of last season, so the group is new up front. Hall was asked about running behind that unit and if it takes time for everything to come together. "I guess we'll continue to see that, but I feel confident about the guys up front. I think we're just continuing to learn the offense and learn the plays together, and I don't think there's any doubt that we're going to continue to go out and put good stuff on tape in the run game." *On preparation being such a huge emphasis within the program, and something Bill Belichick has built a reputation on, Hall said, "There's nothing that came up in that game that we hadn't prepared for." *In addition, he was asked about the running back room and rotation (staff was playing by feel), which we addressed in a separate article; what it was like to see Christo Kelly back out there in a game after playing only 16 snaps last season; on how they prepare to play in went conditions; and he was asked if he saw his former team, Michigan, play and his thoughts on the crazy ending of its game, in which Hall took the political route and said, "I with them the best this year," wearing a big smile.   Christo Kelly, Gr Center *Kelly played 16 snaps against TCU in the opener last season but didn't play another snap because of an injury. So, the win over the Horned Frogs in Ireland was the first time he's sunk his teeth into a game at the FBS level after playing the first several years of his career at FCS member Holy Cross. "It was awesome. It was really the first time that I felt good out there since basically 2024 into the year. It was so cool. You're putting so much work in day in and day out, especially with what we get put through here with the workload. You train for the whole season, right? You're really training for that first game. "So, to be able to go out there, especially coming away with the win, it was awesome. It was awesome." *On having an open date after Ireland, Kelly said, "The greatest change, greatest improvement for a team is from week one to week two, an for us, we had two weeks. So, being able to attack the bye week was big for us." *In addition, Kelly talked about QB Billy Edwards on the field and command in the huddle, in which Kelly isolated Edwards' experience, leadership, and preparation; the positives in that the starting OL played all 58 snaps; he said they pay zero attention to expectations from the outside, including when they are increased after the win in Ireland; and more.