Carolina Football Welcomes Top-15 Signing Class on National Signing Day

Carolina Football Welcomes Top-15 Signing Class on National Signing Day

December 16, 2020 | Football

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CHAPEL HILL - The University of North Carolina football program signed 18 newcomers, including 12 early enrollees, on Wednesday as part of National Signing Day. Currently ranked as the No. 13 class in the country, Carolina's group includes one five star, 11 four stars and six three stars according to the 247Sports Composite. The 18-man class is the second-smallest of the Top 15 teams and its 91 per player average rating on the Composite ranks ninth nationally. The well-rounded class covers all position groups and is split evenly by sides of the ball with nine members playing offense and nine on defense. The group represents four states including 15 players from North Carolina and one each from South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

This stellar class doesn't even take into account five-star Tony Grimes, who was the nation's seventh-ranked player and top cornerback for 2021 before he decided to enroll early and participate in the 2020 season. With Grimes included, Carolina's '21 class would've projected as the No. 10 class in the country. Grimes is the fourth-highest rated recruit for North Carolina since the internet ratings started, narrowly edging current five star Keeshawn Silver, who ranks fifth. If you add in Desmond Evans from the '20 class, three of Carolina's eight higest-rated recruits have come in the last two classes.

While Carolina's recruiting focus runs from Virginia to Atlanta, the Tar Heels took advantage of a deep and talented in-state group to serve as the foundation for the 2021 signing class. In the end, Carolina secured signatures from two of the top three, six of the top 10, and 13 of the top 27 players in the Tar Heel state according to the 247Sports Composite. Based on Rivals.com's rankings, UNC landed three of the top six, six of the top 10, and 12 of the top 23 players in state.

In addition to five stars Grimes and Silver, Carolina secured in-state four stars QB Drake Maye, LB RaRa Dillworth, LB Power Echols, DL Jahvaree Ritzie, DB DeAndre Boykins, WR Gavin Blackwell, LB Gabe Stephens, RB Kamarro Edmonds, DB Dontavius Nash and TE Bryson Nesbit to go along with Tennessee four star Eli Sutton. The Heels also secured South Carolina's third-ranked player in WR J.J. Jones. Talented three stars WR Kobe Paysour, OL Diego Pounds, DB Tymir Brown, RB Caleb Hood and LB Trevion Stevenson from Virginia round out the class.

As a whole, the 2019 Carolina signing class includes three players invited to the Under Armour All-America game and one to the All-American Bowl. The group also includes 11 PrepStar Magazine All-Americans and 16 players who were under consideration for SI All-America honors prior to their senior seasons.

Carolina finished the regular season 8-3 in the second year of Mack Brown's return to Chapel Hill. The Heels are currently ranked 15th in the CFP Playoff poll and await their bowl destination, which will be determined on Sunday, Dec. 20.