Austin Blaske's Return Gives UNC's OL Extra Option Up Front

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Austin Blaske held down the starting center spot for North Carolina throughout the 2024 season, playing in 12 of the team’s 13 games and starting in all of his appearances.

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Blaske moved around on the line in the offseason, though, getting work at guard. A non-contact foot injury during training camp kept him out of the lineup for the team’s first three games, and upon his return, he slotted at left tackle in UNC’s game against UCF and played all 62 offensive snaps.

Now that he’s back, Blaske figures to be a stable presence on the offensive line.

“He’s awesome because he can really play every position,” Bill Belichick said on Tuesday. “He’s played center, guard, both tackle spots. So he gives us a lot of flexibility. And I think it will help us find the rest of the line and the consistency with it.”

Blaske was listed at tackle in the team’s unofficial depth chart, which was released on Wednesday, for Saturday’s game against Clemson. He wasn’t listed on any of the previously released unofficial depth charts while he was out.

Blaske cited swimming workouts as a primary method of staying in shape while he was out. He said he worked on the 100-meter breaststroke and worked his way up to swimming 1,000 yards a day to keep his lungs in good shape. He credited Moses Cabrera and the training staff for getting him ready to face the Knights, saying he felt ready to play throughout game week.

Dating back to high school, Blaske’s played all over the line. He spent four seasons at Georgia in a reserve role, working at guard and tackle. When he came to UNC, he expressed his preference to play center. Christo Kelly took most of the center reps in the offseason, but Kelly’s been out since the team’s season opener. Kelly played 19 snaps that night before Chad Lindberg filled in. Lindberg has started at center for the last three games after previously not having experience at that position at the college level.

Blaske has leaned into his positional versatility, stating that he’ll play anywhere he’s needed along the offensive line.

“I think it’s awesome, just knowing how to play all five positions,” Blaske said. “You never know when someone’s going to go down. So having that ability to slide over and be one of those best five that are out there, the best-five combination that we have to be out there… it makes me feel good, being able to do that.”

On playing tackle, Blaske added: “I go out there with a lot of confidence and know that I’m athletic enough to play the tackle position. And I’ve done this for so many years, high school, previously where I was (Georgia). I wouldn’t say it was a ‘crash course,’ but just kind of knocking the rust off, getting used to playing tackle. It took me just a few reps, and I’m ready to go.”

North Carolina ranks eighth in the ACC in sacks allowed, giving up six in four games. The Tar Heels rank 12th in the conference in rushing yards, averaging 113.5 yards per game. UNC will face a Clemson team on Saturday that ranks eighth in rush defense (121.75 yards allowed per game) and seventh in sacks (10).

The Tar Heels have used three different starting combinations on their offensive line through four games. Eight different players have started up front, with Aidan Banfield, Jakai Moore and Daniel King having started in all four games so far.

Blaske’s return to the lineup gives UNC another option as a lineman with experience who can plug and play into different spots on the offensive line. His availability helps piece together a unit that’s been figuring itself out since the season started.

“Having Austin back was a big lift for us, and, obviously, he hadn’t played in several weeks,” Belichick said. “The Central Florida game was a quick turnaround for him, but I thought he handled himself pretty well and he looked better last week. I’m sure he’ll get better as he gets more reps out there. We’ll just have to figure out what the best combination is.”