The return of Mack Brown continues to show reward as Brown and UNC announced the signing of 18 new Tar Heels, ranking 13th overall in the nation. Early enrollee Tony Grimes, who arrived on campus in August forgoing his senior year to join the team, would have made this class 10th overall. The class includes one five-star, 11 four-stars and six three-stars according to rankings by 247 sports.
Of those 18 players, 15 reign from the state of North Carolina and 11 will enroll early in January. This class is highlighted by five-star defensive end Keeshawn Silver and 4-star pro-style quarterback Drake Maye. Silver will also attempt to play basketball if possible for the Tar Heels.
Brown made a key emphasis when he returned to Chapel Hill to make sure UNC recruited well within the state which equaled success during his first tenure with the Tar Heels. “That’s just the way we’ve always recruited” stated Brown. The entire class is listed below.
Gavin Blackwell* WR 5-11 175 Indian Trail, N.C. Sun Valley
DeAndre Boykins* DB 5-11 200 Concord, N.C. Central Cabarrus
Tymir Brown DB 5-10 170 Jacksonville, N.C. Jacksonville
Raneiria ‘RaRa’ Dillworth* LB 6-1 205 Winston-Salem, N.C. Glenn
Power Echols* LB 6-0 210 Charlotte, N.C. Chambers (Vance)
Kamarro Edmonds RB 5-11 220 Havelock, N.C. Havelock
Caleb Hood* RB 5-11 225 Rockingham, N.C. Richmond Senior
J.J. Jones WR 6-3 195 Myrtle Beach, S.C. Myrtle Beach
Drake Maye* QB 6-5 210 Charlotte, N.C. Myers Park
Dontavius Nash* DB 6-1 180 Gastonia, N.C. Hunter Huss
Bryson Nesbit TE 6-5 235 Charlotte, N.C. South Mecklenburg
Kobe Paysour* WR 6-1 180 Kings Mountain, N.C. Kings Mountain
Diego Pounds* OL 6-5 300 Raleigh, N.C. Millbrook
Jahvaree Ritzie* DL 6-5 280 Kernersville, N.C. Glenn
Keeshawn Silver* DL 6-5 275 Rocky Mount, N.C. Rocky Mount
Gabe Stephens LB 6-3 215 Mount Holly, N.C. Mountain Island Charter
Trevion Stevenson LB 6-3 220 Hampton, Va. Phoebus
Eli Sutton OL 6-6 285 Nashville, Tenn. Brentwood Academy
* – early enrollee