UNC football player goes public about his battle with depression

Posted Jun 17, 2019
June 7 is a day UNC defensive end Jake Lawler won't ever forget. It's the day he went public with his years-long battle with depression, posting a deeply personal essay about his struggles since middle school. By letting the world know of his hurt, he's hoping to help others walking the same tightrope. "I wrote it for people like me. I wanted to reach out." (ABC 11)

Related: Football, Football Recruiting

North Carolina Safety Greg Smith's Playmaking Earns National Recognition
Three games into the season, Greg Smith is developing a habit of finding the football. And now his play is earning national recognition. PFF named...
Mon Sep 21, 2026

Tar Heels in NFL: Hampton, Downs have big days; Maye wins but unsatisfied
Several former North Carolina football players turned in strong NFL Week 2 performances, topped by Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton and Indianapolis Colts...
Mon Sep 21, 2026

UNC Football Offensive and Defensive Snap Counts vs. Clemson
North Carolina came up short in a 28-20 loss at Clemson on Saturday, but the score only tells part of the story. A deeper look...
Mon Sep 21, 2026

North Carolina vs. Clemson: Winners, Losers, and Honorable Mentions
It’s going to be tough to escape thinking "what if" there wasn’t a lightning strike within eight miles of Death Valley during the fourth quarter...
Mon Sep 21, 2026