UNC Football: Mack Brown provides early week injury report leading up to JMU game
There are quite a few UNC football standouts being monitored this week leading up to the team’s Week 4 contest against JMU.
The UNC football team faced several important absences in their matchup against NC Central on Saturday. Alongside standout defender Kaimon Rucker, who is expected to be out for a few weeks due to injury, the Tar Heels also missed starting center Austin Blaske, placekicker Noah Burnette, and a few others. However, on Monday, head coach Mack Brown shared some injury updates that seemed to bring more hopeful news.
Per UNC: They are working Austin Blaske, Darwin Barlow, DeAndre Boykins, Noah Burnette, and Aidan Banfield back in this week. Kaimon Rucker will not play.
— Tar Heel Illustrated (@HeelIllustrated) September 16, 2024
Brown confirmed that Blaske, Burnette, Darwin Barlow, DeAndre Boykins, and Aidan Banfield, who all missed Saturday’s game, will be worked back into the lineup this week. Wide receiver Nate McCollum will also be monitored due to an injury, while Rucker has already been ruled out for this week’s game.
The positive news is that most injured players appear to be improving. While some may still miss this week, it’s reasonable to expect that they could all be back soon.
Rucker’s situation is a bit more complicated, as the UNC football program likely has a timeline they won’t share until his return is closer.
The Tar Heels are set to conclude a three-game home stretch (and non-conference play) with a matchup against JMU, where both teams are unbeaten. Kickoff at Kenan Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 PM EST.