5-star DT Travis Shaw sets decision date; can UNC compete with Clemson, UGA, NC A&T?

Travis Shaw is one of the top prospects in the 2022 recruiting class, regardless of position. However, 247 Sports also ranks the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Shaw as the No. 2 defensive lineman in the class and the top overall prospect in North Carolina.

A Greensboro product, Shaw is also set to make his college decision soon; two ACC programs, Clemson and North Carolina, will be very interested to see how this plays out. Shaw will announce his pick on Aug. 21.

Currently, his top four programs are Clemson, UNC, Georgia and North Carolina A&T, located only a few minutes from the Grimsley High School campus, where Shaw stars as a prep player.

This will continue to be a competitive recruitment; however, things are trending in a positive manner for the Tar Heels. Multiple recruiting analysts, including Steve Wiltfong and Anna Hickey of 247 Sports, have UNC as the favorite for Shaw.

Assistant coaches Lonnie Galloway and Tim Cross have led North Carolina’s recruitment of Shaw. Todd Bates is the lead recruiter for Clemson.

There already a strong 2022 recruiting class in the pipeline for UNC: 12 commitments, including four top-200 prospects. During the last week of July, North Carolina picked up commitments from 4-star linebacker Sebastian Cheeks and 4-star running back Omarion Hampton, an in-state prospect from Clayton.

Shaw, however, would instantly lift this class, which ranks No. 20 nationally, as its top prospect. It would also mark the second straight year that UNC has landed the No. 1 in-state prospect: Keeshawn Silver was the top guy in 2021.

Back in 2020, UNC landed five of the top 10 in-state prospects, including three of the top five: Desmond Evans (No. 2), Myles Murphy (No. 4) and Ja’Qurious Conley (No. 5).

This would obviously be yet another major addition for Mack Brown. Clemson, however, is right there, too.

 

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