CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Mack Brown’s North Carolina program-building process continues with the class of 2021. Coming off an Orange Bowl berth, the Tar Heels have totaled 19 signees that comprise the nation’s No. 14-ranked recruiting class.
“We’ve got is the second-smallest class, meaning number of signees, in the top-15. So we’re very proud that you start looking at the rating and if people that are rating them have this correct, our guys have a 91 percent rating per player average on their composite ranks so that that would rank us ninth in the country when you start looking at that group. It’s a well-rounded group because we’ve got all positions covered.
“I think the thing that excites me the most is their confidence and their attitude. We’ve got a quiet team. This bunch is loud now. I mean, they are aggressive. … And so I think the confidence that they come in with, the closeness that they come with, is something that I’ve never seen in a recruiting class before. I’ve never seen a group this close.”
OFFICIAL: Signed Letters of Intent
No. 19 – CB Dontae Balfour Starke (Fla.) Bradford
No. 18 – WR J.J. Jones Myrtle Beach (S.C.) HS
No. 17 – WR Gavin Blackwell Monroe (N.C.) Sun Valley HS
No. 16 – DL Jahvaree Ritzie Kernersville (N.C.) Glenn HS
No. 15 – LB Gabe Stephens Mount Holly (N.C.) Mountain Island Charter
No. 14 – DB Tymir Brown Jacksonville (N.C.) HS
No. 13 – TE Bryson Nesbit Charlotte (N.C.) South Mecklenburg HS
No. 12 – OL Eli Sutton Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy
No. 11 – WR Kobe Paysour Kings Mountain (N.C.) HS/Gaffney
No. 10 – DB DeAndre Boykins Concord (N.C.) Central Cabarrus HS
No. 9 – OL Diego Pounds Raleigh (N.C.) Millbrook HS
No. 8 – DB Dontavius Nash Gastonia (N.C.) Huss HS
No. 7 – RB Kamarro Edmonds Havelock (N.C.) HS
No. 6 – QB Drake Maye Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park HS
No. 5 – LB RaRa Dillworth Kernersville (N.C.) Glenn HS
No. 4 – DL Keeshawn Silver Rocky Mount (N.C.) HS
No. 3 – RB Caleb Hood Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond HS
No. 2 – LB Power Echols Charlotte (N.C.) Vance HS
No. 1 – LB Trevion Stevenson Hampton (Va.) Phoebus HS