UNC secured 2024’s largest high school recruiting class in Power 4 football with 33 commits playing for Chapel Hill this fall. Head coach Mack Brown and company grabbed all but one of their players from the south, including 11 in-state recruits.
Yet, despite the amount of signees, the Tar Heels could not secure any 5-star commitments – leading to a class ranking of 27th in the nation by On3.com and 26th overall by 247sports.com.
The recruits are a near-even split of offensive and defensive specialists, with a handful of players likely to see snaps as early as this season.
Offensive Signees
UNC continued to bolster its pass-catching core with a trio of wide receivers each from NC high schools. Jordan Shipp, Alex Taylor, and Javarius ‘Vari’ Green were all early enrollees who have practiced with the team since the spring.
Coming in as the only 4-star of the bunch, Shipp is likely to get some offensive snaps at wideout, supplemented with special team appearances. Coach Brown has emphasized the use of a broader rotation this season, which could present opportunities for Shipp, as well as Taylor and Green, to reach the field.
At the running back position, Davion Gause joins a prominent North Carolina rushing attack. Nicknamed “Bullet” for his toughness and hard-hitting play-style, Gause is a physical back that can provide added pass protection in the blocking game. The South Florida native will also gain veteran expertise as he develops behind junior Omarion Hampton and graduate transfer Darwin Barlow.
UNC also signed 3-star quarterback Michael Merdinger from Cardinal Gibbons in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The signal-caller will be far down the depth chart from the current QB battle, but with time, Merdinger has the potential to climb his way up as he learns the offensive system.
Offensive line coach Randy Clements has himself a handful of new offensive tackles to protect QBs down the road. NC locals Jani Norwood and Desmond Jackson join Tennessee native Luke Mastersonas 3-star prospects to develop under Clements’ efforts and the run game coordination of coach Freddie Kitchens.
