After lost 2018, Crawford savoring chance to lead Heels in final season

The senior lineman happy to be healthy, looking forward to return

Jeremy Brevard - USA TODAY Sports

As much as North Carolina missed Aaron Crawford eating up gaps and anchoring its offensive line last season, Crawford might have missed being on the field with his teammates even more.

Sidelined for all but two games of the 2018 season while battling a knee injury, Crawford is savoring the chance to get his final season off on the right foot on Saturday vs. South Carolina (3:30 p.m., ESPN).

“Obviously, this time last year was a different emotional roller coaster for me, so I’m really just trying to keep everything composed and make sure that I put my best foot forward Saturday,” he said.

It was a frustrating season for Crawford and the Tar Heels, who saw a deep and talented defensive line decimated by injury and suspensions related to the sale of team-issued shoes. It was only a week before the start of the season that Crawford went down with a knee injury in practice, estimated to miss four weeks.

The defense played one of its best games of the season when he returned for a 22-19 loss to Virginia Tech on Oct. 20, but he sat again the next week at Syracuse. He again returned on Oct. 27 in a loss to Virginia, but then missed the rest of the season.

An All-ACC talent with the potential to play in the NFL, Crawford’s anticipated breakout season ended with one tackle.

After finishing two undergraduate degrees in 3 ½ years, Crawford is now pursuing an MBA and will serve an even bigger role in a scheme that puts a premium on a defensive tackle’s ability to effectively and efficiently fill gaps and draw double teams on the line.

Add to that that he was forced to watch the Carolina defense struggle again, ranking 111 nationally against the run, he’s even more fired up to lead the Tar Heels onto the field at Bank of America Stadium.

“I wasn’t able to help our guys as everybody ran out of the tunnel for the first time,” he said. “I feel like the ability that I have to do that now and the responsibility that I can take on when we’re out there is great. It’s not weighing on me too much; it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Now facing his last run at Carolina, he’s thinking about his legacy.

That legacy, obviously, hasn’t been what he wants over the past two seasons, but on Saturday, he could take a step toward setting the tone for the final chapter.

“Mack pointed out the last time we won a season-opener vs. a Power Five team was before I was born,” he said. “It’s something we feel like we can take pride in, changing that standard, going out and doing that.”

Indeed, it was in 1997 when Carolina last beat a Power Five opponent in a season-opener, as the No. 8 Tar Heels topped Indiana in Chapel Hill.

And it sure would be nice to have something he can talk a little trash to former Tar Heels like Jeff Schoettmer and Shakeel Rashad about.

"Knowing we did something they couldn’t do and being able to rub it in their face a little bit, it’s something we’d be able to hang our hats on,” Crawford said, smiling.