Darien Rankin ready to start?

Posted Aug 6, 2012
Coming off an excellent spring season and a good summer of quality work in the weight room, where he's added significant muscle mass, redshirt freshman Darien Rankin finds himself running with the starters at free safety as the Tar Heels work through the first week of training camp. (Tar Heel Illustrated)

Related: Football, Football Recruiting

UNC TE Shamar Easter Discusses the Big Play, His Role, and More
In a 21-17 victory over No. 25 Pitt, Shamar Easter's one catch was the difference, as the junior tight end took it 75 yards to...
Tue Oct 13, 2026

Tar Heels need to run the football vs. Duke, slow Nate Sheppard
UNC Football faces two challenges Saturday against Duke: contain one of the nation’s most productive playmakers and find a way to get its running game...
Tue Oct 13, 2026

The Weekly UNC Football Referendum
The ability for this UNC Football team to go to Duke and win, to host Syracuse and win, so that you’re 5-2 going into Miami,...
Tue Oct 13, 2026

Audio: 100 Years of Kenan Stadium - 'A Tsunami of Scoring and Defense'
Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles had thwarted UNC at every turn in its attempt to break into the upper echelon of college football. Then came one afternoon...
Tue Oct 13, 2026