Tag: unc football recruiting

UNC football commit runs for nearly 200 yards in blowout victory Friday

Demon June will don Carolina Blue next year. The in-state running back enjoyed a big game Friday night.

If there’s one position the North Carolina Tar Heels consistently churn out talent at, it’s running back.

That talent is highlighted this year by Omarion Hampton, undoubtedly UNC’s best player and a future first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. North Carolina also has USC transfer Darwin Barlow and breakout freshman Davion Gause in its running back room.

There’s also going to be additional talent joining the Tar Heels next fall: in-state running back Demon June, who has the Jacksonville High School Cardinals off to a 3-0 start.

College football presents a significantly tougher challenge than high school ball, but if June’s latest outing has a say in who starts for UNC next year, he might have an early leg up.

In Jacksonville’s 53-20 victory on Friday night, June rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns.

June was one of North Carolina’s more recent commitments, as he chose to play his college ball at Chapel Hill in August. He’s part of a 14-commit class headlined by Bryce Baker, who is widely expected to be the Tar Heels’ future starting quarterback.

As the season progresses for June, expect more big games like this from him. Will June be able to deliver signature performances once he’s playing inside Kenan Stadium?

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UNC football Class of 2027 RB recruit praises Tar Heels during recent visit

Was a weekend visit enough for UNC to land its first Class of 2027 football commitment?

After largely struggling offensively for the first three quarters of last weekend’s game against NC Central, the North Carolina Tar Heels broke away from the Eagles for a 45-10 victory.

UNC’s defense held NCCU to just 167 yards, an impressive figure after the Eagles marched 75 yards on 12 plays, to score on their opening drive. Omarion Hampton ran all over the NC Central defense, recording his second-career 200-yard game, while Jacolby Criswell started most of the game at quarterback for North Carolina.

On the sidelines, but not in the game, there was another important player taking in the action.

That young player was Amir Brown, the Class of 2027 running back from Rolesville (NC) High School who already has an offer from the Tar Heels.

Brown previously received an offer from UNC in June after camp. He was thoroughly impressed, though, with his first gameday experience last weekend.

“I would say it was an amazing experience,” Brown told TarHeelIllustrated’s Lee Wardlaw. “We checked in, and then we ate. We were relaxing in the lounge room until the pregame (warmups) started. Then, we headed to the field to take everything in. “Their consistency (stands out). I’m all about genuine, pure relationships and transparency. Even though I’m younger, when I see them at games or on campus, it is always sincere.”

North Carolina has already extended 16 offers to the Class of 2027. Did it just land its first 2027 commitment by impressing Brown?

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Class of 2026 football recruit extremely thankful for UNC offer

Class of 2026 in-state linebacker Caleb Gordon was extremely thankful for UNC offering him. Will Gordon actually come to Chapel Hill?

The North Carolina Tar Heels are extremely busy on the football recruiting trail, as they are still making offers to Class of 2025, 2026 and 2027 recruits.

UNC already has 14 Class of 2025 commitments, led by in-state quarterback Bryce Baker, who will likely compete with Conner Harrell for the starting role next fall. North Carolina has three Class of 2026 commitments, highlighted by top-10 in-state player Zavion Griffin-Haynes, but none in the Class of 2027.

The Tar Heels are hoping for yet another commitment from their recent offer to Caleb Gordon, a Class of 2026 linebacker who plays at Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, NC.

Gordon was extremely thankful that North Carolina offered him. Just check out what he told TarHeelIllustrated’s Lee Wardlaw in a recent interview:

“It was a burden lifted off of my chest because I went to camp there this off-season, and it didn’t go too well,” Gordon saidBut I worked hard during the season to prove myself, and it all worked out, so I’m just giving all of my glory to the man above. The Tar Heels stand strongly in my recruitment.”

Gordon has two more seasons in high school, but if he’s already praising UNC like this, look for UNC head coach Mack Brown to continue pursuing Gordon.

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UNC 4-star football recruiting target chooses Virginia Tech over the weekend

A UNC dual-sport recruiting target chose Virginia Tech over the weekend. This doesn’t affect the Tar Heels as much as you may think.

It’s not uncommon to see student-athletes play multiple sports in high school, but it’s rare to see the same in college.

The North Carolina Tar Heels were lucky to have a legendary 2-sport athlete in Julius Peppers, the Pro Football Hall of Famer who played both football and basketball. UNC currently has Kaleb Cost, who’s a defensive back on the football squad and outfielder for the baseball program.

North Carolina was also linked to another 2-sport athlete in the class of 2025, Shamarius Peterkin, the 6’2″ wide receiver who plays basketball and football for Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, NC.

Peterkin listed the Tar Heels, NC State and Virginia Tech as his three recruiting finalists. Peterkin also made a decision over the weekend – and sadly, it doesn’t include UNC.

On Friday, Aug. 16, Peterkin committed to the Hokies in the recruiting portal. This came as a surprise to many, who thought Peterkin would stay in-state for his next chapter.

North Carolina’s men’s basketball program wasn’t going to allow Peterkin to play both basketball and football, but Virginia Tech was, a major factor into his decision.

Peterkin’s out-of-state commitment isn’t a huge loss for North Carolina, who already has 14 Class of 2025 commits, including one from 3-star wide receiver Evan Haynes. If Peterkin had committed to UNC, though, he’d mark the Tar Heels’ fourth 4-star commit.

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Class of 2027 running back ‘blessed’ to receive first offer from UNC football

Why is Amir Brown a special name in the UNC football team’s recruiting efforts?

Headlined by their recruitment of star quarterback Drake Maye ahead of the 2021 college football season, the North Carolina Tar Heels have shown plenty of prowess on the recruiting trail.

They can thank head coach Mack Brown for that. Despite UNC’s tendency to collapse late in the season, it’s not for a lack of talent on the roster.

North Carolina’s 2024 recruiting class is headlined by 4-star wide receiver Jordan Shipp, who has all the tools to make an impact from Day One. The Tar Heels’ 2025 group is anchored by commits from a pair of 4-star recruits, offensive tackle Alex Payne and edge rusher Austin Alexander, while UNC’s highest offer in the 2026 class is Faizon Brandon, the number one player in the country.

North Carolina is already dipping its toes into the Class of 2027. On Monday, July 1, Tar Heel Illustrated reported the Tar Heels offered Amir Brown, a local running back from Millbrook High School in Raleigh.

This wasn’t just any offer for Brown, but his first in the recruiting process. He was pretty stoked, as you can imagine.

“This offer from UNC is a true blessing, and it doesn’t even seem real yet,” Brown told THI’s Lee Wardlaw. “Especially (Carolina) being my first offer. I’m just trying to continue to work for more opportunities. I’m not satisfied!”

Brown delivered quite the introduction during his freshman season on varsity, carrying the football 85 times for 472 yards and a touchdown. He helped lead Millbrook to a 9-3 (4-1) record, which included a second-round appearance in the NCHSAA 4A State Playoffs.

As Brown gains more varsity experience, he’s only going to get stronger and better.

If UNC wants to find its running back of the future, once Omarion Hampton declares for the NFL Draft, it’d be wise to keep close tabs on Brown.

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247Sports scouting report for UNC football commit Bryce Baker at Elite 11

What the scouting report for UNC football commit Bryce Baker ahead of the Elite 11 competition in Los Angeles.

Mack Brown and the North Carolina Tar Heels’ football program continues to build future recruiting classes, hoping to land some top talent for program.

One prospect who is committed to North Carolina is four-star quarterback Bryce Baker. The pro-style quarterback committed to UNC back in June of 2023 and is one of the top players the Tar Heels have in the 2025 class.

Baker has seen a rise in his stock since committing to UNC and the latest is him being one of 11 quarterbacks to make the Elite 11 competition later this month in Los Angeles. Ahead of the event, 247Sports’ Chance Linton broke down each quarterback including a scouting report for the players.

Here is what Linton had to say about Baker:

Abbreviated scouting report: “Mobile signal caller with a muscled-up build that will throw his wide receivers open. Owns a compact release and can create some torque with his upper half. Can be a bit streaky at times as a passer, but has some impressive long balls on the junior spray chart. Really excels at attacking the back corner of the end zone when down in the red zone. Lower-body twitch allows him to escape pressure and extend plays.” — Ivins

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Baker is ranked as the No. 239th player nationally, No. 20 quarterback, and No. 6 player in the state of North Carolina per the 247Sports recruiting rankings.

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UNC football program to receive visit from Big Ten commit

Can the UNC football program change the mind of a four-star defensive end who is committed to Ohio State?

Mack Brown and the UNC football program are still putting together their 2025 recruiting class as they prepare for a busy Summer on the recruiting trail.

The program will hold a few big visit weekends in June, hoping to not only land some prospects but potentially sway others into coming to Chapel Hill for the future. And one prospect that is set to visit is Ohio State commit London Merritt.

The IMG Academy prospect committed to Ohio State in April, picking the Buckeyes over a total of 39 offers. However, looking at Merritt’s recruiting profile on 247Sports, he’s still scheduled to visit North Carolina on June 7th for a big recruiting weekend.

Inside Carolina also hinted that he will honor that visit in a premium post.

North Carolina might not be the only school he will be visiting in the month of June as he’s reportedly open to a visit to see the Florida Gators as well per a report.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Merritt is listed as a four-star recruit who is ranked No. 125 nationally, No. 16 defensive end, and No. 15 player in the state of Florida per the 247Sports recruiting rankings.

The Tar Heels have 10 commitments in the 2025 class, holding a top 25 class going into a very important Summer. They still have a good amount of prospects they are pursuing, including Merritt and the hope is that they can add to this already talented class.

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UNC football offers son of former NFL standout running back

Clinton Portis tore up the NFL for nine seasons. Could his son be coming to Chapel Hill?

While the main football focus in Chapel Hill right now is on the upcoming 2024 season, there’s no reason the North Carolina Tar Heels can’t start preparing for the future.

UNC head coach Mack Brown is known for his ability to bring in high-profile recruits, such as Travis Shaw, Desmond Evans and – most notably – Drake Maye, who flipped his commitment from Alabama to North Carolina.

Mack is acing the Class of 2025 recruiting trail so far, with 10 commits to the Tar Heels.

Mack also has UNC in the mix for Class of 2026 cornerback Camden Portis, as he offered the son of college and professional football legend Clinton Portis on Thursday.

The younger Portis, who spent the first two seasons of his high school career playing for Indian Land High School in Fort Mill, SC, transferred into North Carolina for his upcoming junior season. Camdin will be suiting up for the Myers Park (Charlotte, NC) Mustangs, who won their conference last year, but bowed out in the opening round of the NCHSAA 4A State Playoffs.

The elder Portis won the 2001 BCS title with the Miami Hurricanes, then enjoyed a 9-year NFL career with the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins (now Washington Football Team). Clinton ended his successful pro career with 9,923 rushing yards – which was 27th all-time but now ranks 32nd – and two Pro Bowl selections.

Could the Tar Heels land the younger Portis and make him a key part of their defense in two years?

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Class of 2026 QB target Noah Grubbs praises UNC during recent visit

Will UNC’s quarterback-centered offense be enough to swing Class of 2026 QB Noah Grubbs?

Can you believe the start of college football season is just four months away?

We’ve been celebrating the NFL Draft here in Tar Heel Nation, with star UNC quarterback Drake Maye going third overall to the New England Patriots on Thursday night, but we’re equally as excited about the future.

North Carolina held its Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 20, with the main focus a quarterback competition between Conner Harrell and Max Johnson. The latter will be gone in two years, as Johnson’s currently a junior, leaving the Tar Heel with a major need for more quarterbacks in the future.

Luckily for UNC, one of its Class of 2026 targets in 4-star quarterback Noah Grubbs, left the Spring game with a strong impression.

“My visit was great,” Grubbs told Tar Heel Illustrated’s Lee Wardlaw. “It meant a lot to my family and I that Coach Mack Brown and Coach Chip Lindsey really prioritized us on the visit. The university means more to my family than anyone could imagine. Honestly, we were blown away.”

One area in particular Grubbs liked – how North Carolina’s offense is so quarterback-focused.

“Yes, I really like his (Coach Chip Lindsey’s) offense, and he lets the quarterback ‘just play’ without thinking,’ Grubbs said. “It’s ‘easy read,’ and I love how balanced the offense is. Coach Lindsey really knows how to make it simple for the quarterbacks to go through their progressions and make decisions. It also showcases a lot of our ability to stretch the field vertically.”

You’ll want Grubbs in Chapel Hill even more after seeing his high school statline, as he has a whopping 5,263 yards and 66 touchdowns in just 24 total games.

Grubbs, the nation’s third-ranked quarterback, is also getting looks from Auburn, Florida, Michigan, Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas A&M and UCF.

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UNC football trending for a four-star DL set to make decision

The UNC football program appears to be the team to beat in the recruitment for a four-star edge rusher.

Mack Brown and the North Carolina Tar Heels will soon know their fate for a big four-star reciting target.

Edge rusher Austin Alexander is set to make his decision this weekend, ending his recruitment after landing 29 offers. With the four-star Kentucky native making his choice on Saturday, there’s a team emerging as a leader.

And it’s the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Tar Heels have the lone crystal ball prediction for Alexander, with that coming from national recruiting analyst Tom Loy. The analyst made the pick on Tuesday with a confidence of 6.

In addition to Loy, Steve Wiltfong of On3 has also listed the Tar Heels as his pick in this race:

Burlington (Ky.) Cooper four-star EDGE Austin Alexander has been a coveted player on UNC’s list since he received an offer in August. And things look to be trending in the Tar Heels’ way as we head deeper into the spring.

On Wednesday, On3’s Steve Wiltfong placed an expert pick in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) for Mack Brown and Co. to ultimately land Anderson. To do so, they’ll have to fight off in-state Kentucky, Notre Dame and a handful of other programs who would like to add him to their class.

Alexander is ranked No. 381 nationally, the No. 42 defensive lineman and No. 3 player in the state of Kentucky in the 247Sports recruiting rankings.

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