Ryan Switzer Should Be a Playmaker for 2013 North Carolina Tar Heels

By Tim Letcher
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY SPORTS

The North Carolina Tar Heels will try to ramp up the offense even more in 2013. Coach Larry Fedora favors the up-tempo, high-octane variety of moving the ball.

Quarterback Bryn Renner will return to anchor the offense that averaged more than 40 points per game last season, which was a school record. Renner could have a new weapon in his arsenal this fall when Ryan Switzer arrives on the Chapel Hill campus.

Switzer, a 5-10, 175-pound athlete, could be a key contributor to the Tar Heels as a true freshman. He was rated as the No. 7 wingback in the nation by recruiting guru Tom Lemming and he’s just the type of player that Fedora needs to ramp the offense up to the next level.

Switzer, who played for George Washington High School in Charleston, W.V., finished his senior season with 206 carries for 2,379 yards and 32 touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 253 yards and four scores. During his prep career, Switzer scored a total of 103 touchdowns, so he’s definitely got a nose for the end zone.

The big question for Fedora and the Tar Heels is how to best use Switzer. UNC returns a pair of running backs with experience in A.J. Blue and Romar Morris. Can Switzer find enough carries in an already crowded backfield? Or will he be used as a receiver, capitalizing on his blazing speed? One would think that he could certainly be a star on special teams, returning punts and kickoffs.

Fedora has found a gem in the hills of West Virginia in the First-team Parade All-American. Now, the UNC staff needs to figure out the best way to use Switzer and boost the already potent offense.

Share On FacebookShare StumbleUpon

You May Also Like