North Carolina’s running backs had just finished practice and were walking over to meet the media, as they do most Wednesday nights.
This time, though, they opted to do something different. Someone suggested they do one interview together — as a family.
And so they stood, arms around each other: Khris Francis on the left, Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan in the middle and Jordon Brown on the right.
It’s a unique unit — two seniors, a junior and a first-year — but over the course of countless practices and games, they have become brothers.
“We are all pretty laid back,” Hood said. “We support each other, we work with each other, we compete with one and other, all those kinds of things.
"They are the guys I spend the most time with, I think — out of anybody, anywhere."
In Saturday's loss to Virginia Tech, North Carolina was missing its leading rusher in Hood. The Tar Heels needed the thunderous junior to play alongside all the quick backs that complement him on gamedays.
“I feel like we all bring different things to the table as backs,” said Logan, a senior who averages 6.5 yards per carry. “We are mostly speed guys, he’s a power back, so not having him was kind of different. But we are going to have him this week, so we are going to be fine.”
The glue holding the group together is Francis, a senior reserve who has carried the ball 10 times for 47 yards this season. After four years on the team, Francis understands his role on special teams and in certain personnel groups.
