2016 Sun Bowl: Scouting North Carolina’s linebackers

Believe it or not, North Carolina Tar Heels sophomore linebacker Cole Holcomb left New Smyrna Beach (Fla.) HS without receiving a single FBS scholarship offer.

Fast forwarding to today, Holcomb, a former walk-on, now teams with fellow second-year stud Andre Smith to create one half of the devastating duo who is leading a depleted but youthful North Carolina linebacking corps.

The Tar Heels don't have a single senior starter in the middle of their 4-3 base scheme, which makes the middle 3-6 yards of first-and-ten an oft-targeted area. J.B. Copeland, a junior college transfer this season, might've been the closest thing UNC had to a veteran presence. Unfortunately, Copeland made it into the…