Thirteen players from North Carolina, including projected starting quarterback Chazz Surratt, have been suspended at least one game due to an NCAA violation the program self-reported.
The violation involved the sale of team-issued shoes. The NCAA agreed to stagger the players' suspensions because some of them share the same position.
Suspended Tar Heels:
| Player | Position | Suspension |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Anderson | OL | 4 games |
| Malik Carney | DE | 4 games |
| Beau Carrales | WR | 4 games |
| Tomon Fox | DE | 4 games |
| Tyrone Hopper | DE | 4 games |
| Quiron Johnson | OL | 4 games |
| Malik Robinson | LB | 4 games |
| Chazz Surratt | QB | 4 games |
| Jordan Tucker | OL | 4 games |
| Greg Ross | DB | 2 games |
| Tre Shaw | DB | 2 games |
| Jack Davidson | QB | 1 game |
| Jonah Melton | OL | 1 game |
"I am certainly upset by our players' actions and how their choices reflect on them, our program, and the university," head coach Larry Fedora said in a news release obtained by The Athletic. "These young men knew the rules and are being held responsible for the poor choices they have made. Accountability is an important core principle in this program. We will learn from this and aim to do better in the future."
The bombshell continues what's been a rough summer for the Tar Heels, who are looking to bounce back from an ugly three-win campaign in 2017. Fedora recently caught flak at ACC media days for questioning the link between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - the degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma.
North Carolina kicks off its season Sept. 1 at Cal. Junior Nathan Elliott will be the favorite to start at quarterback while Surratt is serving his suspension.