UNC football WR Antoine Green back from injury and punishing defenses

Antoine Green started making up for lost time last Saturday in spectacular fashion.

The fifth-year senior receiver made his 2022 debut in a 45-32 loss against Notre Dame with a three-catch, 150-yard, two-touchdown effort for North Carolina. The performance was highlighted by an 80-yard, third-quarter touchdown catch in which Green blew past an Irish defender up the right sideline to race untouched into the end zone.

Those are the kind of plays the Tar Heels were hoping to get this season from the speedy Green after a junior year in which he finished second to all-conference pick Josh Downs in team receiving. Green also ranked second among ACC receivers with 19.7 yards per catch last season, and paired with Downs would give UNC one of the best duos in the league.

But in one of the team's first preseason practices, Green hit the ground awkwardly during a scrimmage.

"When I was laying on the ground I really didn't feel it at first,'' he said. "But when I tried to lift my arm, that's when I actually felt it.''

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Green had suffered a collarbone injury that would require surgery, a procedure that was expected to sideline him six to 10 weeks.

"There was a lot of frustration in the moment because I knew the season was getting ready to start and I wouldn't be out there with my brothers,'' Green said. "But I'm very rooted in my faith and that's what kept me going honestly. That's what has gotten me to this point right now.''

Green's rapid recovery puts UNC's receiver corps at full strength as it begins the ACC portion of the 2022 schedule. The Tar Heels (3-1) kick off their league schedule at home against Virginia Tech (2-2) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ACC Network), and Green's explosive speed could be a key weapon against a veteran Hokie secondary.

"AG is a great player,'' UNC quarterback Drake Maye said. "He's made big plays here for years now, and toward the end of last season he made some big plays. He's a deep-ball threat, good route runner and he's got a lot of experience just making plays.''

Green has been making "big plays'' since his days as a four-star prospect at Rockledge High School in Florida. He was probably more well known for his track exploits as one of Florida's top sprinters, but that speed attracted scholarship offers from more than 30 programs. Major powers such as Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon were among the schools courting Green.

In July before the start of his senior season, Green made a verbal commitment to Florida State. But in early December, when FSU coach Jimbo Fisher resigned to become head coach at Texas A&M, Green backed off that pledge and re-opened his recruitment.

The Tar Heels took advantage and landed Green on the traditional signing day in February 2018.

Green has been a contributor to the UNC receiving corps since he arrived on campus, appearing in 35 games with 28 starts prior to 2022.

Sitting out the first three games this year made Green appreciate his return even more last week.

"Coming out of the tunnel is always exhilarating,'' Green said. "To run out with your team and see the crowd and fireworks popping off ... that was a great moment for me.

"The first half started out kind of rough. I had two drops. I know I'm better than that. So coming into halftime I just took a moment to reset and pray about it. I got back on the field and I felt more comfortable in the second half.''

In addition to his 80-yard scoring catch against Notre Dame, Green added a 64-yard touchdown reception with 1:44 to play.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football WR Antoine Green speedy, deep-ball threat for Tar Heels