UNC has had no shortage of top-tier recruits on the defensive side of the ball since Mack Brown returned to Chapel Hill. Getting quality performances out of that talent has been a different story.
Nobody encapsulates this corollary more than defensive tackle Myles Murphy. Originally a four-star recruit as an edge rusher with room to grow, Murphy eventually became a 6’5”, 310 lbs defensive tackle. He had his most impressive statistical season in his sophomore year, tallying four sacks and 38 tackles, but was used more to occupy blockers for Cedric Gray to hoover up tackles, once Gene Chizik took over the defense.