North Carolina Tar Heels News

View our full coverage of National Signing Day at ACC Signing Day Central

Head Coach: Larry Fedora

Total number of commitments: 26

Following a cycle that included an unusually high number of decommitments along the way, there was limited drama for North Carolina in its pursuit of 2016 prospects. Although the first two recruits to commit to the Tar Heels ended up reopening their recruitments (running back Antonio Williams switched his commitment to Wisconsin before ultimately signing with Ohio State, while wide receiver Kyran Bowman opted to focus on basketball), and wide receiver Korey Banks flipped to South Carolina late, most of the players stayed intact.

One focal point for this class was the defensive backfield. UNC saw four safeties decommit in a seven-month span before Signing Day in 2015, so it was no surprise to see the staff prioritize the secondary for 2016. One of the key pickups was in-state athlete Myles Dorn, who is a Charlotte native and the son of former Tar Heel standout Torin Dorn. A mid-year enrollee, Myles will begin his college career at safety.

As it has since Larry Fedora arrived in Chapel Hill four years ago, UNC’s staff heavily recruited the state of Georgia. Five of the team’s commitments are from the Peach State, including Kathleen quarterback Logan Byrd, who originally pledged to Virginia Tech early in his junior year before decommitting six months later and choosing the Heels in April 2015.

North Carolina’s coaches won a couple of recruiting battles over their in-state rivals. Dorn and offensive lineman Jay Jay McCargo were also targeted by NC State, while Duke was a finalist for linebacker Jonathan Smith. In addition, the Tar Heels were able to flip Chazz Surratt last June, just two months after the quarterback had committed to the Blue Devils.