Earlier this week, we asked: would a North Carolina-based ACC program be able to keep Diego Pound in-state when he announced his college choice? The answer to that question is yes.
On Friday afternoon, Pounds, a 4-star offensive tackle in the 2021 recruiting class, committed to Mack Brown and North Carolina. Auburn and LSU were in the mix; however, Penn State emerged as the team to beat. The Tar Heels did just that.
BREAKING: Diego Pounds commits to #UNC: https://t.co/tc2LfmMoA9 (FREE) @chaboiidiego @SWiltfong247 @Coach_JLilly @CoachMackBrown @billy_high pic.twitter.com/9CMztRK0Np
— Don Callahan (@DonCallahanIC) September 25, 2020
A few hours before Pounds announced his decision, rumors started to circulate: UNC had usurped Penn State as the favorite for Pounds.
The 6-foot-6, 305-pound offensive tackle plays his prep ball for Millbrook (HS) in Raleigh, N.C.; 247 Sports ranks Pounds as the No. 36 offensive tackle in the 2021 class and a top 25 prospect for the state of North Carolina.
Pounds becomes the 17th commitment in North Carolina’s 2021 recruiting class, which ranks No. 12 nationally. Of those 17 commits, 13 hail from the state of North Carolina. (Don’t forget: 5-star 2021 cornerback Tony Grimes was initially set to be a part of this class before he reclassified in July and enrolled at UNC. Grimes played during the season-opening win against Syracuse.)
Tight ends coach John Lilly — brought in by Brown in February to replace Tim Brewster, who left for Florida — led the recruitment for Pounds.