Mack Brown provides latest on status of Willie Lampkin, Gavin Blackwell

North Carolina is hoping to get back a couple of important players on offense when UNC resumes ACC play on Saturday against Syracuse.

Starting offensive lineman Willie Lampkin and starting receiver Gavin Blackwell appear to be on pace to suit up this weekend, according to head coach Mack Brown.

Lampkin missed each of the past two games against Minnesota and Pitt, after starting on the offensive line against South Carolina and Appalachian State. Blackwell missed UNC’s most recent game against Pitt after recording six catches for 88 yards the first three games of the season.

“Both practiced yesterday,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown said Monday. “We were in shorts. So we really won’t know until we watch them run this week, but I think both should be OK.”

Lampkin has been an important addition for the UNC offensive line. The Coastal Carolina transfer was a three-year starter for the Chanticleers, before coming to Chapel Hill this offseason.  

Blackwell is a sophomore who started the first three games of the season, prior to going down with an injury. The North Carolina native appeared in 13 games in 2022, making four starts. He finished the year with 18 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown.

UNC is an 8.5-point favorite for Saturday’s game against Syracuse. The Tar Heels are 4-0 coming off their bye week.

Syracuse is 4-1 entering Saturday’s matchup. The Orange suffered their first loss of the season this past weekend against Clemson.

Mack Brown calls Garrett Shrader one of the toughest quarterbacks he has seen

In order for North Carolina to stay unbeaten, the Tar Heels will have to slow down Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader.

UNC coach Mack Brown spoke earlier this week about how difficult that will be.

“Their quarterback — Garrett Shrader — is 6’4, 225 [pounds] and he can run over you,” Brown said. “You start trying to figure out, he doesn’t slide much, so as you’re getting ready to hit him if he slides and you hit him it’s a penalty. If you think he’s gonna slide at 6’4, 225 he will run right over you. He’s one of the toughest quarterbacks I’ve ever seen. So he’ll be a real challenge.”

Shrader was a four-star prospect coming out of Charlotte Christian High School as a part of the 2019 class, making Saturday’s game a homecoming of sorts for the North Carolina native. He was ranked the No. 15 quarterback in his recruiting class and the No. 292 overall prospect according to On3’s Industry Ranking.