UNC football coach Mack Brown touts incoming recruiting class, takes jab at NC State

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown inked his fifth straight recruiting class considered to be in the top 25 nationally on Wednesday. UNC’s class is ranked No. 25 according to 247 Sports composite team rankings and fourth in the ACC behind Florida State, Miami and Clemson.

“I congratulate our recruiting staff and our coaching staff, they work really hard for over two years on these classes,” Brown said. “We’re already deep into next year’s class and we’re still trying to do it with a large majority of high school players and then fill in some areas of need with the portal.”

Of the 27 signees, Brown said 21 will enroll early in January and called this class “the best academic class we’ve ever had.” The well-rounded class (fourteen defensive players, twelve offensive players and one specialist) is comprised of 12 four-star and 15 three-star recruits.

“They will be a great addition to our team moving forward,” Brown said.

Six players have already been practicing with the team for the upcoming Duke’s Mayo Bowl: wide receivers Alex Taylor and Jordan Shipp, cornerback Khalil Conley, safety Malcolm Ziglar, offensive lineman Jani Norwood and preferred walk-on Hayes Galloway.

However, the most notable moment of the signing day had nothing to do with the signing at hand, as Brown took a moment to address N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren’s foul language toward the UNC program.

At the end of his signing day remarks, Brown expressed disappointment and disapproval of Doeren’s postgame remarks after the Wolfpack’s 39-20 victory over UNC in November. Doeren referred to UNC players as “pieces of s***,” a locker-room comment caught by ACC Network cameras and shared on social media.

Brown called Doeren’s words “classless,” and emphasized the achievements and character of his players.

“You don’t call kids a piece of s***,” Brown said. “I’ve addressed it with our team. I apologized to them.”

Top-rated recruit

Jaiden Patterson, DB: An all-around player from Dacula, Georgia, Patterson is an early enrollee and four-star prospect with versatile skills in interceptions, punt returns and blocking kicks. A natural safety, standing at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, he excels in both zone and man coverage, showcasing instant acceleration and physicality in run support.

“What we love about this guy is he’s got length and speed and the ability to go up and high-point the ball,” UNC football general manager Patrick Suddes said.

Player who could impact early

Andrew Rosinski, OL: Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 275 pounds, Rosinski from Creekview High School in Canton, Ga., earned a 91 rating on 247 Sports. With a versatile athletic background in football and track, Rosinski has promising drive-blocking and pass-protection abilities that will help him add depth to the Tar Heels’ offensive line.

Suddes noted his ability to block in space and said Rosinski has “great feet and great bend.”

Most intriguing recruit

Jani Norwood, OL: As much potential as Norwood has as an interior offensive lineman, it will be interesting to see how his experience in his school’s theatre dance group carries over to the football field.

“We normally go through a whole stretch routine before we start dancing, so I think it definitely made me more flexible,” Norwood said.

With an impressive high school career marked by multiple accolades — including Shrine Bowl selection — Norwood averaged 6.3 pancakes per game as a senior with a 95% blocking and was also named a four-time academic all-conference performer.

Top local recruit

Malcolm Ziglar, DB: Ziglar, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound defensive back from Fuquay-Varina is a standout player in the class of 2024 — earning a 92 rating on 247 Sports. With a background in both football and track, Ziglar is known for his lanky, rangy style, versatile skills in man and zone coverage and impressive athleticism.

Ziglar said, since he’s been at UNC, Kaleb Cost, Giovanni Biggers and Don Chapman have taken him under their wing — walking him through and showing him “the little things” that “make a world of difference” in his game.

Signed players

This story was originally published December 20, 2023 at 4:17 PM.

Steve Wiseman

The News & Observer

919-419-6671

Steve Wiseman was named Raleigh News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun sports editor in May 2025. He covered Duke athletics, beginning in 2010, prior to his current assignment. In the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, he placed in the top 10 in beat writing in 2019, 2021 and 2022, breaking news in 2019, event coverage in 2025 and explanatory writing in 2018. Before coming to Durham in 2010, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989.