The Irish aren't on UNC's schedule this year, but first-year North Carolina coach John Bunting expects his line-backers to show the same kind of tenacity
as he did way back when.
Although he hasn't gone specifically to his starting three linebackers -- David Thornton, Quincy Monk and Merceda Perry -- to talk about his glory days at one of UNC's traditionally strong positions, Bunting still expects big things out of his guys.
"I think the linebackers are the guys that run the football team," Bunting said. "You want a good football team, you need a quarterback that leads and linebackers that lead."
UNC's three linebackers have plenty of experience between them -- but it's better than the back-ups.
Senior Thornton played in 316 snaps in 2000, mostly on special teams. But his hard work impressed Bunting enough that the former walk-on earned a scholarship in the spring.
Perry started the first two games of last season as an outside linebacker until fracturing his right ankle against Wake Forest after making four tackles. He received a medical redshirt.
Taking over at middle linebacker for Brandon Spoon, who was a fourth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills, is senior Quincy Monk. Monk stepped in last year when Perry went down for the season. Monk had 76 hits and six tackles for a loss of 31 yards last year, but he'll be needed for a lot more than that. Replacing a defensive leader like Spoon will require more than six TFLs.
"Monk's a great leader," Thornton said. "Merceda's provide a whole lot of extensive leadership as well."
