Dec 27, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels place kicker Noah Burnette (98) kicks a field goal in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Injuries in sports are always unfortunate, but they also can open the door for other players to prove themselves.
Such was the case for the UNC football program last year, as it lost Week 1 starting kicker Ryan Coe to a lower-body injury early on.
Luckily for the Tar Heels, they had another standout kicker in Noah Burnette waiting on the sidelines. Burnette thoroughly exceeded his role, connecting on 19-of-20 field goal attempts and all 43 extra points, highlighted by a perfect outing in North Carolina’s double-overtime win over archrival Duke.
After Coe initially injured himself, the expectation was him healing and returning to starter duties.
That never happened and – instead, Coe entered the transfer portal. Even if Coe elected to stay in Chapel Hill, he’d be Burnette’s backup.
With how well Burnette performed in 2023, particularly after an inconsistent 2022, it’s no surprise he’s amongst college football’s best kickers in 2024.
Burnette’s talent was recognized over the weekend, as he was nominated for the Lou Groza Award.
If you’re wondering what the Lou Groza Award is, it’s presented annually to the top kicker in college football, something Burnette certainly proved last year.
It’s always difficult to replicate numbers, but I know Burnette is capable of continuing his success from a year ago. If UNC’s offense stalls under a new quarterback this fall, Burnette could be counted on more.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : UNC starting kicker Noah Burnette nominated for prestigious Lou Groza Award
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Publish date : 2024-08-05 12:33:00
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