CHAPEL HILL North Carolina cornerback Kendric Burney had a hard time watching the College World Series this summer.
Not just because the Tar Heels lost there for the third straight season, but because the former outfielder was in Chapel Hill rather than Omaha, trying to help a different UNC team win a title.
“Giving up baseball had to be probably the hardest decision I've ever made in my life,” said Burney, a sophomore from Jacksonville.
“But I knew I was definitely going to have to be at full strength, and be 100 percent with the football program to help the program get to where we want to be – the ACC championship, and contending for a national championship.”
His commitment – and the secondary's improvement – will be key to those short- and long-term goals.
Burney, along with senior safety Trimane Goddard and sophomore safety Deunta Williams (last season's ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year), started all 12 games for the 4-8 Tar Heels last year.
At the other corner, then-freshmen Charlie Brown started five games in the nickel formation and Richie Rich switched over from tailback late in the season and finished with 13 tackles.
Despite its youth, UNC finished 27th nationally in passing defense, and second in the ACC (allowing 207.25 yards per game).
“We've got some guys back there that have played in games, and understand what it takes,” said first-year defensive coordinator Everett Withers. “Now it's just a matter of getting better in training camp this year, and seeing if we can get better in games.”
With so much returning experience, Burney said the secondary's goal is to finish tops in the league and in the top 10 in the nation – at least.
Which was why, after playing in three games this past season for the baseball team, he needed to choose.
It came in the middle of spring football practice.
“I talked to my family, I talked to my coaches, but in the end, I knew it needed to be my decision,” said Burney, who is on scholarship for football and walked on to the baseball team.
So while the diamond Tar Heels went on another post-season run, Burney went to work on his body – increasing the muscle on his 5-foot-9 frame from 180 pounds to 190. He also improved his speed.
“This summer was probably the best summer I've had in my life as far as training,” he said. “I knew I had to get faster to go against the best receivers in the ACC and our nonconference opponents … so being able to get the confidence that I can run with receivers like (Tar Heels) Brandon Tate, Brooks Foster, Hakeem Nicks, that was key.”
Keeping up with the best isn't enough, he said. He'd like to out-catch them, too.
UNC picked off 11 passes last season, tied for 73rd in the nation.
Burney had one of those interceptions (and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown at N.C. State), but he's set a higher goal this season: six or seven by himself. And with his work over the summer, he should at least put himself in position to try it.
“He has a knack of just being around the football,” Withers said.
“And some of that you can't teach.”
NOTE: Freshman linebacker Kevin Reddick reported to camp and practiced for the first time Monday. He still hasn't been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse, a team spokesman said, but the Clearinghouse allows players a 14-day window to practice as both sides try to clear up academic issues.
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