I know from time to time you guys like the big picture write ups that give an idea as to what's going on in a more general sense so here I'll post that now as we go into the weekend.
One Visitor This Weekend
North Carolina's already had several significant recruiting weekends including a couple of blockbuster junior days. While those haven't produced any commitments sources are cautioning that they're still very optimistic on where they sit relative to their top targets. Late April through June is when the dominoes should start falling, in one direction or another but most likely in both directions to some extent.
Javon Jackson is the expected visitor this weekend, I've confirmed from UNC sources.
The three-star safety from Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek has an offer from the Heels. He also has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.
Jackson had a monster junior year with 58 tackles and six picks. He's not quite a big or as long as some other defensive backs these days, as it seems like every other secondary player being recruited is 6-foot-2. But that's not a problem. As I've said before, the trend towards a lot of length is opening up possibilities for schools like UNC with some excellent players under 6-feet that would have been trending more towards blue bloods in the past.
Kentucky was hot on Jackson early but he's opened up his mind as more schools have offered. They have three defensive back commits already. UNC has one and I believe they're going to push hard this weekend. Wouldn't be surprised at all, at the very least, if he comes out of that visit very, very high on the Heels, possibly with them at the top of his list ... or more. Not predicting a commitment but absolutely not ruling it out.
Key Updates on Other Emerging Targets
UNC recently offered three-star defensive end Michael Boykin of Carrollton, Ga. He's a big of a specimen at 6-foot-6, 248 pounds. We'll have a full update on him very soon but right now UNC has surged into his top three along with Kentucky and Louisville. UNC is a school he's wanted an offer from for some time. You know Michael Jordan's impact on UNC was immeasurable and incomparable when a Class of 2016 defensive end, in football, is talking about that when the Heels offer, more than 30 years after his stint with Dean. Boykin played against '15 signee J.K. Britt and is familiar with him.
He's yet another Georgia defensive end that likes the Heels a lot. We've written about three-star end Tomon Fox in the past. For good reason, because he's visited multiple times.
Jacksonville, Fla. receiver Kevin Stepherson was offered by UNC when Dan Disch was still on the staff. Now there's been a lull as recruiting responsibilities have been in flux. Wake Forest's recruiting him the hardest. The Heels may have the inside track if they turn it up because he's very tight with William Sweet.
Divine Deablo is still very high on the Heels and while UNC is in the running for several out-of-state receivers there are still a good number of more local options they feel good about -- including him.
I suppose there's an assumption that in-state tight end Garrett Walston is the most likely guy they'll get at the position because he's local and has visited. But I did speak with Georgia tight end Christian Roberson and he told me that UNC, Pitt, Florida, Michigan, Kentucky and Louisville are among the schools recruiting him hardest. Florida and Mississippi State stand out to him and he visits Starkville with his parents in mid-April, but if he makes it out of that without committing then UNC's got a chance. They'll make the case that the big 6-foot-6 target would be a great fit in an offense that's proven to help tight ends thrive.
This will be of interest to some of you. I spoke with Jimmie Taylor and his father. They're planning to visit UNC sometime in the spring. They will visit Florida in a few weeks as well. They have not been in an enormous amount of contact with the Heels lately but there's still interest there. Their last visit was to Tennessee and while it went well I can't say they really gushed like many visitors do after making it to Rocky Top lately.
Not long ago UNC offered Massachusetts resident and Virginia boarding school student-athlete Joseph Goff, an offensive lineman and defensive tackle. Initially it was believed that he would likely be Boston College-bound. He grew up wanting to play hockey there. But he only recently visited for the second time and he told me that he was a bit put off by the fact that they wanted him to commit so soon. I'm also hearing he's more open to not going to school in New England than many believe. UNC will be on the lookout for talented big guys and Goff's one to watch for sure.
Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines has sent a couple of players to UNC and their junior athlete, Ronald Patterson, told me yesterday that he knows Sam Smiley. There has been a lull since Disch was fired, as I said was also true with Stepherson, but Patterson said he's visiting UNC for the Heels' spring game -- or he's supposed to. He does know William Sweet.
One Visitor This Weekend
North Carolina's already had several significant recruiting weekends including a couple of blockbuster junior days. While those haven't produced any commitments sources are cautioning that they're still very optimistic on where they sit relative to their top targets. Late April through June is when the dominoes should start falling, in one direction or another but most likely in both directions to some extent.
Javon Jackson is the expected visitor this weekend, I've confirmed from UNC sources.
The three-star safety from Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek has an offer from the Heels. He also has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.
Jackson had a monster junior year with 58 tackles and six picks. He's not quite a big or as long as some other defensive backs these days, as it seems like every other secondary player being recruited is 6-foot-2. But that's not a problem. As I've said before, the trend towards a lot of length is opening up possibilities for schools like UNC with some excellent players under 6-feet that would have been trending more towards blue bloods in the past.
Kentucky was hot on Jackson early but he's opened up his mind as more schools have offered. They have three defensive back commits already. UNC has one and I believe they're going to push hard this weekend. Wouldn't be surprised at all, at the very least, if he comes out of that visit very, very high on the Heels, possibly with them at the top of his list ... or more. Not predicting a commitment but absolutely not ruling it out.
Key Updates on Other Emerging Targets
UNC recently offered three-star defensive end Michael Boykin of Carrollton, Ga. He's a big of a specimen at 6-foot-6, 248 pounds. We'll have a full update on him very soon but right now UNC has surged into his top three along with Kentucky and Louisville. UNC is a school he's wanted an offer from for some time. You know Michael Jordan's impact on UNC was immeasurable and incomparable when a Class of 2016 defensive end, in football, is talking about that when the Heels offer, more than 30 years after his stint with Dean. Boykin played against '15 signee J.K. Britt and is familiar with him.
He's yet another Georgia defensive end that likes the Heels a lot. We've written about three-star end Tomon Fox in the past. For good reason, because he's visited multiple times.
Jacksonville, Fla. receiver Kevin Stepherson was offered by UNC when Dan Disch was still on the staff. Now there's been a lull as recruiting responsibilities have been in flux. Wake Forest's recruiting him the hardest. The Heels may have the inside track if they turn it up because he's very tight with William Sweet.
Divine Deablo is still very high on the Heels and while UNC is in the running for several out-of-state receivers there are still a good number of more local options they feel good about -- including him.
I suppose there's an assumption that in-state tight end Garrett Walston is the most likely guy they'll get at the position because he's local and has visited. But I did speak with Georgia tight end Christian Roberson and he told me that UNC, Pitt, Florida, Michigan, Kentucky and Louisville are among the schools recruiting him hardest. Florida and Mississippi State stand out to him and he visits Starkville with his parents in mid-April, but if he makes it out of that without committing then UNC's got a chance. They'll make the case that the big 6-foot-6 target would be a great fit in an offense that's proven to help tight ends thrive.
This will be of interest to some of you. I spoke with Jimmie Taylor and his father. They're planning to visit UNC sometime in the spring. They will visit Florida in a few weeks as well. They have not been in an enormous amount of contact with the Heels lately but there's still interest there. Their last visit was to Tennessee and while it went well I can't say they really gushed like many visitors do after making it to Rocky Top lately.
Not long ago UNC offered Massachusetts resident and Virginia boarding school student-athlete Joseph Goff, an offensive lineman and defensive tackle. Initially it was believed that he would likely be Boston College-bound. He grew up wanting to play hockey there. But he only recently visited for the second time and he told me that he was a bit put off by the fact that they wanted him to commit so soon. I'm also hearing he's more open to not going to school in New England than many believe. UNC will be on the lookout for talented big guys and Goff's one to watch for sure.
Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines has sent a couple of players to UNC and their junior athlete, Ronald Patterson, told me yesterday that he knows Sam Smiley. There has been a lull since Disch was fired, as I said was also true with Stepherson, but Patterson said he's visiting UNC for the Heels' spring game -- or he's supposed to. He does know William Sweet.
