Local Tar Heel Conley hopes to have bigger role in 2021 season

Chris Miller

Jacksonville Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK

What a difference a year makes for North Carolina's Ja'Qurious Conley.

This time last year, the former Northside standout was balancing his new life as a college football player amid the COVID- 19 pandemic, trying to settle in academically and athletically while still not knowing there would be a season.

Today, Conley feels he has grown up as he enters his second season with the Tar Heels.

"I think I have matured a lot more. I've matured 10 times more than how I was coming in as a freshman," Conley said before he held a meet and greet at Mission BBQ in Jacksonville on Saturday. "I feel like being around the older dudes on the team and the coaches has helped me know what to expect from here on out."

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Conley, a

See CONLEY, Page 3B

North Carolina safety Ja'Qurious Conley looks forward to his second season with the Tar Heels. CHRIS MILLER

2020 high school graduate, hopes that growth comes in handy as he looks to have an even bigger role this fall for North Carolina, which was picked by the media to win the Coastal Division and finish second overall to Clemson overall in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Conley said he has moved into a safety position after emerging as a starting nickelback last season. Conley played in 10 games last season and started in the Orange Bowl, which the Tar Heels lost 41-27 to Texas A& M.

It was North Carolina's first major bowl game since 1950. Conley ended the season with 35 tackles and a sack. He had six tackles and the sack against No. 9 Miami and had five tackles against Texas A& M.

"Moving to safety, that's going to be a big position for me," Conley said. "I look to make more tackles and be involved more in the blitzes."

Adjusting to his new position 'was kind of hard' at first during spring practice, Conley said. Now, he feels ready for the season to kick off. North Carolina opens practice Thursday. The Tar Heels, who finished 8-4, open the regular season Sept. 3 at Virginia Tech.

"I feel like we have a huge target on our backs," Conley said. "Coming in behind Clemson in the ACC poll, that's big for us because it has been a long time since UNC has been high like that. I feel like this year we can exceed the expectations."

Despite the lofty expectations, Conley added that he tries to not put too much pressure on himself "I try not to be too hard on myself, but I do catch myself in the moment where I think to myself 'I could have made that play,'" he said. "I just need to focus on doing my job, which is to be a good tackler and stop people in coverage. I try to make every play that I can, and I have used my athleticism, but this year I can also use my knowledge of the game."

Conley's father, Terrell, agreed that his son doesn't fret about the expectations of himself and the team.

"Jay has really matured and he knows that he just needs to focus on today," he said. "Since he has been at UNC, he has taken everything in."

Chris Miller can be contacted via email at chris.miller@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @jdnsports.