North Carolina Gets Discouraging Update on QB Battle: Report

The North Carolina Tar Heels have a trying month, and the optics of its quarterback battle in training camp don't seem promising before their season opener against TCU in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 29. 

Before training camp, reports surfaced general manager Michael Lombardi was placed on paid administrative leave amid an investigation. Early in training camp, UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick was put on medical leave.

Per Pete Nakos of On3, quarterback Billy Edwards and Miles O'Neill have not proven themselves as the starter so far in training camp. Edwards, predicted nationally to win the starting job, struggled during scrimmage over the weekend. O'Neill reportedly played better at Saturday's scrimmage.

However, UNC likes what they see from true freshman Travis Burgess.

North Carolina has less than two weeks to decide on its starting quarterback. UNC is looking for a better start in Week 0 than they had against TCU last year when the Tar Heels lost 48-14 at home.

UNC didn't have great quarterback play in the loss, with Max Johnson going 9 of 11 passing for 103 yards and Gip Lopez going 4 of 10 passing for 69 yards and one interception in the loss. 

Belichick is juggling a quarterback battle amid losses in the program with Steve Belichick and Lombardi absent. Bill Belichick told reporters on Friday that his staff in the building has accumulated more tasks during training camp.

“People have picked up in areas, and we’ve done the things that we had to do at this time of year,” Belichick said, via USA Today. “Things will change, as they always do, on the calendar, as recruiting changes, as the regular season comes into play and so forth.

"But for this period, it’s been the same until it changes, which will be in late August, early September.”

Late August is rapidly approaching, and it will be interesting to see how UNC is able to battle the storm before playing TCU. With a tough schedule to start the campaign, the Tar Heels must view the matchup against the Horned Frogs as a must-win game. 

For that matchup, UNC needs a quarterback ready to lead the team.