UNC's Foster ready to step it up

CHAPEL HILL — Brooks Foster knows that many consider him North Carolina's third receiver, behind play-maker Hakeem Nicks and speedster Brandon Tate.
But after a summer of building his leg strength to try to ward off injury, he's determined to surprise some people.

"I definitely have a lot of personal goals ... I really want 1,000 yards,'' said Foster, who wants to play in the NFL after this season. "It's going to be hard to distribute the ball. ... But this is my last year, so I've got to step it up, do what I can to get the ball."

Last season, a lingering quad injury helped limit his receptions, although he finished with 29 catches for 417 yards and two touchdowns. After missing the Miami game with the injury, he returned to the field, telling the coaches he was 100 percent. But he wasn't really, and he said it showed particularly when he tried to run routes over the middle.

"I lost my confidence, wasn't getting open as much,'' he said. "It kind of made me look bad, kinda-sorta."

He was close to 100 percent the last two games of the season, he said, and spent the off-season in the weight room.

If opponents really do consider him the "third receiver," he wants to be healthy and strong enough to take advantage of the double-teams they might throw at Nicks (who has said he wants to get 1,200 yards) and Tate (who is 539 yards shy of the NCAA record for kickoff return yards).

"I feel like if I'm strong, you don't fatigue as fast, your legs don't break down on you,'' he said.

BRIEFLY: Freshman linebacker Kevin Reddick reported to camp and practiced for the first time Monday. He still hasn’t been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse, a team spokesman said, but the Clearinghouse allows players a 14-day window to practice as both sides try to clear up academic issues.

-- Robbi Pickeral (Raleight) News & Observer