We enter the final weekend before National Signing Day on Wednesday the 3rd. Coaches around the country are scrambling to make their final contacts with prospects who have kept coaches and media guessing for the better part of the last six months.
With the day Butch Davis’ staff had yesterday, there are fewer targets left to be pursued.
UNC received four more commitments, all from the state of Florida, three of whom decommitted from other universities in favor of the Tar Heels. The recent additions bring the total to 19 players – 5 of whom have already enrolled – and vault this year’s class into the top 30 by most ranking services.
Listed below are members of the “Floridian Friday” as coined by CarolinaBlue.com:
Giovanni Bernard – RB
Bernard, nicknamed “Gio,” was formerly committed to Notre Dame. He visited Chapel Hill last week, and decided to switch his commitment. He also chose the Tar Heels over Oregon State where his brother, Yvenson, played.
Tim Jackson – DE
Jackson’s recruitment process has been less publicized than most, but he was considering in-state rival Wake Forest. Instead, he chose the Tar Heels who are quickly becoming known as D-line U (see potential 2011 1st-rounders Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin).
Casey Turner – RB
Turner adds another body to a position of need, if he decides to stick with his decision. He originally committed to Florida International, changed to Rutgers last month, and had reportedly switched to UNC Thursday night. A New Jersey sports reporter, however, wrote that he had received a text message around noon Friday that it was still Rutgers. All reports now indicate that UNC is his final choice. We’ll see about that.
Tre Boston – DB
Boston had planned to announce his decision on National Signing Day between the Tar Heels and Cincinnati, to which he given a verbal commitment. After the flurry of announcements by the other young men above, I guess he figured he better take the offer before there weren’t any spots left.
The Tar Heels also added two more North Carolinians earlier this week: another D-lineman labeled as a "must-get" by the UNC coaching staff in Kareem Martin and Reggie Wilkins from Shelby. Wilkins committed to UNC last fall before switching to NC State. Obviously, he has seen the light by recommitting.
Unfortunately, the Tar Heels missed out on safety prospect, Christian Bryant from Ohio. He chose Ohio State in order to stay close to family. Even though we didn’t get his commitment, I see this as a positive that the Tar Heels were listed in the final two for a highly touted prospect in Big Ten country.
Keep an eye out for Ethan Farmer (DL) Tabor City, NC and Brandon Gainer (RB) Miami, Florida as possible UNC decisions on signing day and to make sure we don’t suffer any surprise losses.
Additional side note:
ESPN has decided to air UNC’s Blue-White game on April 10, 2010 at 3 pm on national television. This is an extreme honor that indicates very high expectations for this football team. Admission is free so come and support to show the nation how we do in the Tar Heel State.
