The Tar Heel football team is looking to build on an 11-win season a year ago, but they'll be doing so without senior offensive lineman John Ferranto. The New Jersey native tore his left pectoral muscle on Monday and required season-ending surgery at UNC Hospitals, according to a press release by the school. His recovery time will be six months.
Ferranto was a four-year player and fifth year senior for the Tar Heels and had made 17 starts in his career. He was expected to be a starter in 2016. Inside Carolina projected him to replace Landon Turner at right guard this year.
The injury to Ferranto leaves the UNC guard corps even thinner than it was before. Inside Carolina states that junior Brad Henson, who has played primarily on special teams, and redshirt freshman Nick Polino were the other players to compete for the open guard spot this spring. One of them will need to be ready to step up in Ferranto's absence.
It's always sad when a player is forced to miss an entire season because of an injury, but a fifth year senior missing out on his final year is even more unfortunate. Hopefully Carolina's lineman depth finds a way to help the team minimize the loss of Ferranto's presence.
