In the world of college athletics, 2022 is much closer than it seems. The UNC football team has already begun its recruitment for the class of 2022, receiving commitments from three players, all of whom hail from Virginia and received multiple offers from other top-20 programs.
Head coach Mack Brown is no doubt a factor in the increased interest in UNC football. Since his return to the Tar Heels in 2018, the team’s recruiting class rankings have skyrocketed from 30th in 2019 to 14th in 2021, per 247Sports.
Due to COVID-19, two of these players have been unable to see the field since their sophomore years, since the Virginia High School League pushed back the start date of football to spring 2021. We’ll have to see what this atypical season will hold for these recruits as they begin their junior year of play.
Tayon Holloway
UNC celebrated the holidays with a Christmas Day commitment from Tayon Holloway. A native of Virginia Beach, Holloway is a four-star recruit who the 247Sports Composite ranks as a top-five player in Virginia and 15th nationally at the cornerback position.
With over a dozen offers from major programs, such as Alabama, Florida State and Penn State, Holloway’s decision shows how UNC’s recruiting prowess is on the rise.
As well as being a cornerback, Holloway doubled as a wide receiver in high school and led his team with 69 receptions for 814 yards as a sophomore. Holloway has the speed to track long crossing patterns and will likely gain strength in his junior and senior seasons, according to 247Sports.
Holloway's athleticism runs even deeper than that since he competed in the long jump for his high school track team. He was recruited by fellow Virginia Beach native and Tar Heel cornerbacks coach Dré Bly, who has the potential to turn Holloway into a strong member of UNC's secondary.
