Senior Lineman James Hurst Catalyst for Tar Heel Turnaround
CHAPEL HILL– The big news for Carolina football this week is the loss of quarterback Bryn Renner for the remainder of the season. The senior signal caller started 32 games for the Tar Heels in his career and is just the third player in Carolina history to reach 8,000 career passing yards.
But the show must go on, and going forward, the Carolina football team is hoping to continue to build on their recent successes. But how were these counted out, undermanned Tar Heels mired with a 1-5 record able to right the ship?
A lot of the credit has to go to the senior leaders. Although small, they are mighty in spirit. Senior offensive lineman James Hurst has started more games as a Tar Heel than anyone else on the team.
Hurst says the team just needs to keep the focus and intensity through four quarters of football.
“You know any play can be that big play that makes or breaks a game. That was our mindset, and I think we did a great job of focusing and playing all four quarters,” Hurst says.
Hurst says he really appreciated the way a lot of the younger players were really fighting to send out the seniors on a high note. And Hurst says the win against N.C.State will be a cherished memory of his.
“It’s definitely going to be a lifetime memory. I’m never going to forget something like that. You know that’s all I could ask out of my teammates is to play really hard. You could feel that they were playing for the seniors, which is a really good feeling,” Hurst says.
Hurst says he feels like he has been able to help some of the young offensive lineman build confidence in the game plan going into live action on Saturdays.
“I feel like I’ve been able to help them with the game plan and understand what we are trying to do so when they go out there on Saturdays you don’t have to think as much. It’s a little more natural. Hopefully, those guys feel like I’ve been doing a good job of that. Just going out there on Saturdays, and those guys having confidence is what I’m worried about,” Hurst says.
As far as the task at hand for Homecoming, Hurst says the playing level of the Virginia Cavaliers is far superior to their 2-7 record.
“You know you look at their record, and you see that they aren’t having that great of a year. But if you watch them on film, it’s a little different story. You see that they have a lot of potential. They’re definitely going to bring it,” Hurst says.
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