Lineman chooses Tar Heels

The University of North Carolina received a commitment on Saturday from Brennan Williams, one of the top offensive linemen in the country.

Williams is a 6-foot-6, 270-pound offensive lineman at West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial School. He was a four-year starter who played guard as a freshman and sophomore, tackle as a junior and center as a senior. He is ranked the nation's seventh-best offensive guard prospect by the Rivals.com scouting service.

"You'd have to ask the people down there where they envision him playing," Catholic Memorial coach and athletics director Alex Campea said. "I believe they might start working with him at offensive tackle, but he could play several positions."

Williams made his commitment on national television on the sideline while playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

He had narrowed his decision to UNC, Wake Forest and nearby Boston College, and he had scholarship offers from Michigan, Stanford, Penn State, Florida, Syracuse and others.

"Brennan is a good student, and I know academics were very important to his parents," Campea said. "North Carolina offered a combination of great academics, plus the opportunity to play on a competitive team. Coach [Butch] Davis has been successful at all levels of coaching, and North Carolina is really bringing in a quality recruiting class. All those things led him to North Carolina."

UNC has 26 verbal commitments, according to Rivals.com, which rates Carolina's commitments the No. 6 class behind LSU, Ohio State, Texas, Southern California and Alabama. The Tar Heels have commitments from one five-star player, defensive end Donte Moss of Jacksonville White Oak, and commitments from 13 four-star players, including Williams.

NIXON OPTS FOR GATORS: Xavier Nixon of Fayetteville Britt, one of the top-ranked offensive lineman in the country, announced at the U.S. Army all-star game that he will sign with the University of Florida.

Rivals ranks Nixon the nation's No. 3 offensive tackle prospect.

North Carolina colleges, led by UNC, have nonetheless done a good job keeping top prospects in state.

Of the Rivals.com top 10 in North Carolina, UNC has commitments from six -- Donte Moss, Gastonia Ashbrook receiver Jheranie Boyd, Smithfield-Selma linebacker Justin Dixon, South Stanly defensive back Terry Shankle, Chapel Hill defensive tackle Jared McAdoo, and Matthews Butler linebacker Hawatha Bell. Duke has a commitment from Durham Hillside runner Desmond Scott. Charlotte Victory Christian defensive tackle Curtis Porter chose Miami, and Shelby runner Larry Raperis is undecided.

GONET TO RICHMOND: Cole Gonet, a versatile 6-foot-2, 218-pound senior football player at Ravenscroft, has committed to the University of Richmond.

He played several positions at Ravenscroft, including fullback, wide receiver, running back, linebacker and defensive back. He projects as a college fullback or linebacker.

"Richmond is a great fit for Cole," his father, Ravens coach Ned Gonet, said. "It is a great academic institution, and it just won the NCAA [Division I Football Championship Subdivision] national championship.

"Richmond showed a lot of interest in Cole last spring, and I told him to really consider it because it was great academics and a great program. I really didn't expect it to win the national championship, though."

Cole Gonet was a four-year starter for Ravenscroft and led the Ravens to the N.C. Independent School Athletic Association playoffs three times.