The University of North Carolina football program, in recent years, has become a “Wide Receiver U” of sorts.
Seven Tar Heel receivers heard their names called since the 2017 draft, include four in the past three years – Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome in 2021, then Josh Downs and Antoine Green this past year.
UNC already has 4-star Providence Day receiver Jordan Shipp and 3-star Weddington receiver Keenan Jackson committed to its 2024 class, adding reinforcement to a position that is largely inexperienced. Carolina landed transfer Devontez Walker, who caught 63 passes for 1,045 yards and 12 touchdowns in two years at Kent State, earlier this offseason.
There’s a couple more receiver recruits the Heels may add, as they are finalists for Jonathan Paylor, Alex Taylor and Javarius Green.
Paylor is a 4-star, 1-time state champion (track and field) who hails from Hugh M. Cummings High School in Burlington. In his junior season alone, Paylor combined for 1,779 scrimmage yards and 22 touchdowns. Over his first three years as a Cavalier, Paylor has 2,512 reeiving yards and 24 receiving touchdowns, plus 2,147 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns.
Taylor is a 4-star recruit from Greensboro’s Grimsley High School, which lost in the 2022 4A state championship to New Bern. In two full seasons (last year and 2021), Taylor has 1,716 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.
Green is a 3-star recruit from Shelby, N.C.’s Crest High School. He is the son of former NFL player Willie Green, who won two Super Bowls. The younger Green has 1814 receiving yards and 23 receiving touchdowns through three years, including a 1,267-yard, 18-touchdown junior season last year.
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