Leaders emerge for Mean Green ahead of season

[Harry]

IRVING — At this time a year ago, North Texas felt pretty secure when it came to a few aspects of its team.

Linebacker Zach Orr, running back Brandin Byrd and wide receiver Brelan Chancellor all seemed to be locks to start. And while Derek Thompson didn’t nail down the starting quarterback job until right before the Mean Green’s season opener, he had two years of experience as a starter under his belt heading into his senior year.

UNT will have a little less certainty when it opens fall practice Aug. 5 in advance of its Aug. 30 season opener at Texas, especially at skill positions. What coach Dan McCarney and his players have come to believe over the last few weeks is that while UNT doesn’t have as many proven commodities, it does have several options at a few key positions and players who are growing into their new roles.

That is true both on the field and off it.

“Every year you have guys who graduate and leave,” senior linebacker Derek Akunne said at Conference USA’s annual media day on Wednesday at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott. “It’s a new team every year. There are different personalities. We are adjusting to it.

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