After Mack Brown makes in-state recruiting a priority, UNC signs 14 players from NC
Since Mack Brown returned to Chapel Hill in November, he and his staff have been blazing a trail to bring in a top 2020 recruiting class.
On Wednesday, that dream class became official. On the first day of the early signing period, Brown and his staff arrived at the office early, and watched the fax machine as the Nation Letters of Intent from UNC’s future football players came in.
“We felt like after a year of hard work this is a successful day,” Brown said. “We felt like it’s a very well-rounded class, it’s a class heavy with linemen, which we needed because we have to create depth in those areas. We felt like we really improved around the line of scrimmage.”
Twelve of the signees will enroll early.
“It will be fun to have them here for spring practice,” Brown said. “These will be very quick additions to our team.”
Brown’s 2020 class is ranked No. 3 in the ACC and No. 17 in the nation, according to 247Sports. Twenty-five players signed with UNC on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. Fourteen of those players are from North Carolina. UNC had 10 in-state players for its 2019 class. When Brown arrived, one of the first things he announced was making in-state players a priority.
Brown felt like the staff brought in more players who can help the team in 2020. The goal was to build depth on both sides of the ball. He wants the class of 2020 to challenge the players on the current roster. Brown pointed out that several of the incoming freshmen will have a chance to start.
“It gives us a lot more strength as a team with our depth,” Brown said. “We’ve always told our players to try to out recruit yourself, let’s get someone here who is going to challenge you to get better. The more depth you get, the more guys you get to challenge each other, the more competitive your team becomes and the fewer injuries you have because you have more people playing.”
Here’s a look at the Tar Heels’ newest signees.
TOP PRIZE
Lee County’s Desmond Evans is the No. 2 defensive end in the nation, a four-star prospect who picked the Tar Heels over Virginia Tech, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee.
In the past, a top-ranked in-state player with those offers possibly would have spurned UNC, most likely for an SEC school. Evans is the highest-ranked player to sign with the Tar Heels since 2009 and the fourth highest player ever to sign with the team.
Brown said the team needed pass rushers and there weren’t many in the country better than Evans. The 6-6 Evans collected 37 sacks and 60 tackles for loss in three prep seasons.
NEED
Brown’s elite teams in the late 1990s were led by top-ranked defensive units with future pros on the defensive line. So it’s no surprise that Brown, in his first full recruiting class, loaded up on defensive players. The class of 2020 has six defensive linemen, including the top three players in this group.
ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Trenton Simpson, a Mallard Creek linebacker, committed to Auburn in June but decommitted in October. There was speculation that Brown would flip Simpson to the Tar Heels. That changed with one visit to Death Valley.
Simpson, the Observers’ top player in the state, took an official visit to Clemson last week. Twenty minutes after getting an official offer, Simpson (6-3, 224 pounds) committed to the Tigers.
BUILDING THE FENCE
Brown’s desire to make in-state recruiting a priority shows with this group. Fourteen signees are from North Carolina — Charlotte to Jacksonville. Those 14 players are the most for UNC since 2011, when the Tar Heels signed 13 from in-state.
“We needed to be the cool place to be,” Brown said. “We won games, we filled the stadium, we had a chance to win every game, so those are things you have to have. If you don’t have a product, you’re not going to recruit well. That’s the most important thing.”
Getting Evans to sign, one of the top players in North Carolina, sent exactly the message Brown needed.
“When the top players stay here it sends a message to all (young) players that it’s OK to come here,” Brown said. “That’s when you start getting a lot better.”
UNC football signees
Desmond Evans, DL (6-5, 240, Sanford, NC)
Jonathan Adorno, OL, (6-4, 295, Rolesville, NC)
Cayden Baker, OL (6-5, 285, Fort Myers, Fla.)
A.J. Beatty, DL (6-5, 275, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Kedrick Bingley-Jones, DL (6-5, 275, Charlotte, NC)
Jefferson Boaz, Athlete, (6-7, 240, Pilot Mountain, NC)
Jayden Chalmers, DB, (6-0, 170, Sanford, NC)
Ja’Qurious Conley, DB, (6-2, 190, Jacksonville, NC)
John Copenhaver, TE, (6-4, 225, Rosewell, Ga.)
Tylee Craft, WR, (6-4, 185, Sumter, SC)
Jacolby Criswell, QB, (6-1, 220, Morrilton, Ark.)
Josh Downs, WR, (5-11, 170, Suwanee, Ga.)
Cedric Gray, LB, (6-2, 205, Charlotte, NC)
Elijah Green, RB, (5-11, 200, Roswell, Ga.)
Stephen Gosnell, WR, (6-2, 200, Pilot Mountain, NC)
D.J. Jones, RB, (5-11, 195, Fayetteville, NC)
Kendall Karr, TE, (6-4, 230, Belmont, NC)
Malik McGowan, OL, (6-4, 335, Charlotte, NC)
Myles Murphy, DL, (6-4, 305, Greensboro, NC)
Ray Rose, WR, (6-2, 210, Belmont, NC)
Cameron Roseman-Sinclair, DB, (6-0, 195, Charlotte, NC)
Kaimon Rucker, LB, (6-1, 245, Hartwell, Ga.)
Ethan West, LB, (6-4, 235, Midlothian, Va.)
Trey Zimmerman, OL, (6-5, 290, Rosewell, Ga.)
Clyde Pinder Jr., DL, (6-1, 320, Seffner, Fla.)
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 3:45 PM.
