UNC football doesn’t lack for receivers. But who is the Tar Heels’ No. 1 go-to guy?

North Carolina’s Nate McCollum had a career receiving game a year ago against Minnesota.

Quarterback Drake Maye targeted the wideout 20 times in the game in Chapel Hill and McCollum caught 15 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown in the Tar Heels’ 31-13 win. How good is that?

“I got to them last year,” McCollum said after a recent preseason practice.

The Golden Gophers surely haven’t forgotten. UNC and Minnesota will hook up again in the 2024 season opener – this time in Minneapolis – and McCollum knows what to expect in the Aug. 29 game.

“I think they’re going to be tough,” he said. “They’re always big and tough.”

The Gophers are in the Big Ten. Isn’t that the league’s rep?

McCollum, who has been called “Minnesota Nate” in preseason camp, was asked if he might be a marked man Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium, given the way he tormented the Gophers last year at Kenan Stadium.

“I hope not,” the 5-9 senior said, grinning.

UNC’s wide receiver depth

McCollum might be one of the Gophers’ defensive targets but not the only one. The Tar Heels could line up with McCollum, J.J. Jones, Kobe Paysour or Gavin Blackwell at the wideouts. Then, there’s Bryson Nesbit – arguably the Heels’ most dangerous receiver – and John Copenhaver at tight end.

“Bryson brings a lot of versatility,” UNC offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said. “He’s that hybrid guy you see a lot of at the next level who can flex out and be a one-on-one guy but can also play in the slot.”

A year ago this time, much was being said – often loudly and critically – about UNC’s Tez Walker. The NCAA refused to declare the wide receiver eligible as a two-time transfer, and UNC coach Mack Brown and everyone else in the program were steaming about the situation and the uncertainty – would Walker play or not?

The NCAA finally relented and allowed Walker and others to get on the field, but that was in early October, after UNC’s win over the Gophers, after McCollum’s big game.

McCollum, a transfer from Georgia Tech, never had another game anything like that one, fighting injuries at times during the Heels’ 8-5 season. Walker became the Heels’ No. 1 receiver and go-to guy, their best deep threat, while Jones led the team in receptions with 46 and yards with 711.

McCollum finished with 44 catches for 469 yards and the one TD in his first year in the program. That came after 60 catches at Georgia Tech in 2022.

“It’s like starting a whole new job,” McCollum said. “Even being an older guy, it’s hard to come in and immediately be comfortable.”

Heels need WR production

Maye, who passed for 414 yards in the Minnesota game last year, is gone to the NFL. So is Walker. The Heels will have a new quarterback – Brown hasn’t announced a starter – and that quarterback likely will be tested immediately as the Gophers look to try and take away running back Omarion Hampton and see how the Heels respond.

It’s up to McCollum and the others to run the routes crisply and correctly, create separation from defenders, win those 50/50 battles on throws, hold on to the ball.

“Omarion is a huge piece to the puzzle but we’ve got others around him,” Lindsey said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who have had some reps, but what we need is that guy who establishes himself as that No. 1 guy.”

Receivers coach Lonnie Galloway said he might play as any as six or seven wideouts, depending on game situations. He has a lot of guys in the receiving room, including Chris Culliver, Paul Billups, Christian Hamilton and true freshmen Jordan Shipp and Alex Taylor.

“Everybody in that room could get on the field. Everyone in that room is a baller,” Jones said, adding that Shipp and Taylor appear “college ready.”

Galloway said this week that “everybody is still in play” and that Brown’s mandate to develop better depth could result in a number of substitutions.

“From the 20 to the 20, that’s where coach likes us to sub if we’re going to sub,” Galloway said. “In the red zone, he wants guys in there we depend on.”

McCollum figures to be one of the dependables. He wants to be.

“Last year is last year. This year is this year.” McCollum said. “I feel like this year I’m more comfortable. I’m ready to go, man.”