UNC football’s Andre Greene Jr. making positive preseason impression as freshman receiver

Adam Smith, Times-News
·3 min read

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina football is less than a week into its preseason work, but that minimal training camp sample has been enough for true freshman receiver Andre Greene Jr. to create a positive impression.

Tar Heels coach Mack Brown, receiver Antoine Green and running back D.J. Jones have noted Greene seems to be off to a promising start through four practice sessions.

“I thought Dre Greene really stepped up,” Brown said after UNC’s first practice. “He’s what we thought he was. He’s tall, he can run, he can catch. He made a couple of acrobatic catches (on throws) behind him. So he’s got a chance to help us early.”

North Carolina opens the season Aug. 27 against Florida A&M, a so-called Week Zero game that arrives earlier on the schedule. Week 1 games are Sept. 3 for nearly all college football.

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While Jacolby Criswell and Drake Maye are competing for the starting quarterback job, the Tar Heels already have a playmaking star receiver in the electric Josh Downs (101 catches for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns last season) and an experienced target on the outside in the fifth-year senior Green (31 catches for 612 yards and five scores).

Could Greene, a four-star recruit, emerge as a contributor alongside them? That’s a steep task for any true freshman, particularly one such as Greene, who didn’t enroll early at UNC or participate in the team’s spring practices.

North Carolina freshman receiver Andre Greene Jr. runs through a drill during a preseason practice session in Chapel Hill.
North Carolina freshman receiver Andre Greene Jr. runs through a drill during a preseason practice session in Chapel Hill.

Then again, Greene already looks the part physically at about 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds.

Jones said Greene’s tools and potential were evident in glimpses during Saturday’s practice at Kenan Stadium that was open to the public. Perhaps Greene’s top moment that day came on a Criswell deep ball he hauled in down the sideline while working against defensive back Lejond Cavazos in coverage.

“Dre, he was flashing the whole day,” Jones said. “And even to me, I was impressed with him. I got to talk to him a little bit and his confidence is up. He knows what he has to work on and the things that he’s good at. He knows where he’s headed, and I think he’s headed in a good direction.”

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The senior Green said the freshman Greene is “gonna be a dog” at receiver when he develops.

“As far as learning the offense, I think he’s learning it pretty well,” Green said. “Of course it’s going to take some time, but compared to other dudes, I think he’s definitely picking up on it pretty good.”

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Adam Smith is a sports reporter for the Burlington Times-News and USA TODAY Network. You can reach him by email at asmith@thetimesnews.com or @adam_smithTN on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Times-News: UNC football freshman Andre Greene Jr. makes positive impression at WR