Mack Brown commends Kevin Hester for taking on bigger role

With Raymond Vohasek out, Kevin Hester is emerging as a key player for North Carolina. Mack Brown shared an interesting reason why that is and commended Hester for stepping up.

Brown said Hester is finding his “purpose” on the team, and he’s proving he’s capable of handling a starting role. The numbers are already showing his progress, too, as he has 24 total tackles this year. That’s already four more than he had all of last season.

Vohasek’s absence has opened a door for Hester, and Brown said he’s among a growing group stepping up in new roles with the Tar Heels.

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“When you see guys that have a bigger purpose, they step it up,” Brown said. “They play with more confidence. Kevin knows now that he’s got to be that guy and he can’t be a backup. He can’t be a guy that goes in when Ray’s tired. He’s got to be the guy on the first play of the game that starts out well. We talked a lot about yesterday, the more players we can find that can get a purpose on this team, the better they’re going to play. … Elijah Green was a scout team running back and he was finding a role with a broken thumb on special teams because he wanted to help the team.

“But he had a purpose, and special teams became his purpose. And then, he goes in and has a purpose in the Duke game, and I told the team this morning, Elijah may not play against Pitt. We don’t know. We don’t know what’s going to happen Saturday. But you’ve got to be ready to play. And I think that’s where guys like Kevin have stepped up.”

Pat Narduzzi says Mack Brown is ‘great for college football’

Ahead of a primetime showdown in Chapel Hill, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi heaped praise on North Carolina head man Mack Brown, the oldest — and one of the most accomplished — active head coach coach in the sport.

The 71-year-old Brown is in his second stint as the Tar Heels head coach, first holding the job through the end of the 1980s and most of the 90s before spending the next 15 years at Texas. Now he’s back in ACC country and has Narduzzi singing his praises.

“I just think he’s a legend. I love him,” Narduzzi said. “I just think he’s great for college football. Period. I’m glad he’s out of the media industry and back in to college football because he’s good for college football.”