Year 5 of the 2nd Mack Brown Era is getting closer, which means it is time to check back in with the Tar Heels.

What better way than this Saturday’s spring game?

Set for 3 p.m. ET at Kenan Memorial Stadium, the showcase offers a chance for North Carolina fans to get a glimpse at what is to come this fall. With Heisman Trophy hopeful — and potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — Drake Maye back for another go-around, the Tar Heels are looking to build off a hectic 9-5 season.

With that, here are 5 storylines to watch going into the spring game:

1. How many reps does Maye get?

Last spring, Maye battled Jacoby Criswell for the top spot on the depth chart at quarterback. But this time around, there is no doubt who will suit up at signal-caller for the Tar Heels in the fall. Criswell transferred to Arkansas in December, and Maye is coming off a prolific 38-touchdown campaign. The hype is real, as the North Carolina native is currently +1500 to win the Heisman Trophy, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, behind only reigning winner Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix and Jordan Travis.

For Maye to truly push for the most prestigious award in college football, building chemistry with his receivers is key, particularly with Josh Downs off to the NFL. That being said, limiting Maye’s risk of injury is a must, even with quarterbacks not allowed to be tackled. Expect to see the reigning ACC Player of the Year take the field for a few possessions early on. Past that, though, the risk certainly outweighs the reward.

2. How does Maye’s offensive line hold up?

If there was 1 weakness in the passing game last season, it was the Tar Heels’ inability to keep their quarterback clean. Maye was sacked 40 times in 2022 (102nd nationally), with 31 of those sacks coming in North Carolina’s final 9 contests. Not every sack is solely on the offensive line, but protecting Maye more effectively has to be priority No. 1 for Brown and the offensive staff.

New offensive line coach Randy Clements is in charge of a veteran group, 1 that includes left tackle William Barnes. That being said, improvement up front is essential.

3. How much of the Chip Lindsey offense is revealed?

Maye’s likely final season in Chapel Hill will include the redshirt sophomore signal-caller’s 2nd offensive coordinator, as former play-caller Phil Longo left the program to take the same position at Wisconsin. Brown wasted little time identifying Longo’s successor, naming Lindsey to the post in mid-December.

Lindsey, an acolyte of UCF head coach Gus Malzahn, steered the Knights’ offense admirably in his lone season in Orlando. UCF ranked 16th nationally in total offense and 31st in scoring offense, reaching the American Athletic Conference title game before losing to Tulane.

Interestingly, the Knights relied heavily on the ground game, finishing 9th nationally in rushing yards per contest (228.4), ahead of the likes of Florida State and Georgia. Could Lindsey bring more balance to the Tar Heels offense? That will be 1 thing to watch on Saturday and brings us to our next point …

4. Will a clear-cut starter at running back emerge?

Given past tendencies at the position, this is unlikely. Under Brown, the Tar Heels have typically had a tailback tandem dominating snaps, from Michael Carter and Javonte Williams in 2020 to Elijah Green and Omarion Hampton in 2022.

Green, Hampton and Caleb Hood, a trio that combined for 1,209 yards and 14 touchdowns, all return. Graduate student British Brooks, after missing the entire 2022 campaign with a lower-body injury sustained in the preseason, will also push for reps. It figures to be another crowded year in the Tar Heels’ backfield.

But if any of the aforementioned quartet is to take the mantle and run with it, odds are it will be Green. The Georgia native was 2nd to Maye in carries (131) and led North Carolina with 8 rushing touchdowns. Will he start to build some separation between himself and the rest of the running back room on Saturday, or will the outlook at the position get even more cluttered?

5. How does the rebuilt secondary look?

North Carolina struggled mightily at defending the pass last fall, finishing last in the conference in passing yards allowed per game (271.3). Co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Charlton Warren is back for a 2nd season, but the program parted ways with cornerbacks coach — and former Tar Heels great — Dre Bly in January. Brown proceeded to hire former Indiana safeties coach Jason Jones to fill Bly’s shoes, tweaking his defensive staff yet again.

Three transfers — cornerbacks Alijah Huzzie (East Tennessee State) and Armani Chatman (Virginia Tech), and free safety Derrik Allen (Georgia Tech) — entered the fray in the offseason. All 3 are expected to compete for starting roles in the back end, and if the trio upgrades the secondary then 2023 could be a wildly different year for the North Carolina defense.