Here's a link to the front page story that includes links to videos from Monday. https://northcarolina.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1773077
CHAPEL HILL - Monday's contingent at UNC's football camp was considerably less than the impressive group that was here Sunday, but what it may have lacked in numbers it made up for in competitiveness and there was enough intrigue to make it a rather interesting session.
None of the 83 campers came to UNC with an offer yet, but a few likely will come out of this workout with the Tar Heels wanting their services. And like Sunday, the state with the most prospects in attendance was Florida with 42 campers. The rest of the state-by-state breakdown: North Carolina 15; Washington, D.C., 9; Alabama 6; South Carolina 4; Georgia 3; West Virginia 2; and 1 each from Texas and Mississippi.
Here is a rundown of the more highly regarded players whom UNC is targeting but hadn't offered prior to Monday's camp and several others of interest or that stood out:
Note: Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik was on hand today.
*The most impressive performer without question was Florida native (East Bay HS) defensive back KJ Sails (5-10, 165). He's very lean but in a good way. He's proportioned well, but will have no trouble adding strength everywhere. He's extremely athletic, agile, can stop on a dime, cuts well, anticipates really well, and gives off the overwhelming scent of a football player.
But perhaps most impressive, and this is saying a lot, but Sails was the best competitor at the camp. In the agility drills, he watched everyone in his group without fail, often encouraging and trying to motivate them. And in some of the more competitive stuff, like going out for and defending passing plays, he was constantly on the field, wasting no time to "go again" as some other players weren't nearly as quick to get onto the field. When he made a mistake or was beaten, which was quite rare, he stayed on the field to make amends.
The rising senior's focus - the look in his eyes - was amazing, as "impressive" isn't a word that does this young man justice. After camp concluded, UNC head coach Larry Fedora approached Sails and said, "I love the way you compete."
*Another defensive back from Florida, Jayvaughn Myers (6-0, 179, Pasco HS), was also quite impressive and drew plenty attention from UNC's coaches. Even during a running drill prior to the players being timed in the 40, Fedora spent some time with him discussing how he starts and puts his hand on the ground. It appeared Myers was listening closely,
*Durham Riverside's Jordan Riley (defensive end) stood out on Sunday and ended up getting an offer from the Tar Heels following camp. On Monday, Riverside DL Marcus Willoughby (6-3, 230, 2016) was on hand and had his moments. He got a lot of attention from DL coach Tray Scott and appeared to respond pretty well to Scott's passionate teaching.
Willoughby has nice extension, good body balance, cut well in drills, and appeared more comfortable in a 3-point stance than with both hands on the ground. He's pretty athletic for someone who gives the appearance of an athlete capable of growing into a D1 defensive lineman.
*Theren Uptigrow (5-11, 200) is an intriguing 2016 linebacker from Orangeburg, SC, HS. A little longer, maybe rangier than the other LBs in attendance, he has really good balance and turned in some excellent work in a drill running between pylons laying on the ground. Basically, it was a drill in which you run front to back and back to front only to be repeated. He didn't come close to slowing his speed or drifting out of a straight line.
Uptigrow was called over to chat for a minute by Fedora after camp concluded. They shook hands and shared some wide smiles.
*Connor Watts is from West Virginia and has a connection with Ryan Switzer, the UNC receiver and punt returner who briefly chatted with Watts during a drill and then later after the workout. Watts (5-10, 190) ran some really crisp routes, has good hands and appears to have the instincts to play at a competitive level.
*Only a few offensive linemen were in attendance, one being 6-5, 341-pound, Madison Ridge, MS, monster Tyler Harris. Harris is quite large and could stand to trim down some, but he moved well and carried the weight as if it wasn't a huge hindrance. But that's in camp and during drills, he has such a large frame that turning some of that into well-rounded muscle while dropping some weight will serve him well and get even more eyes on his development.
*There were a lot of wide receivers at the camp, 21 to be exact, roughly a quarter of the prospects on hand, and one of the fastest was 2017 Florida native DJ Mathews (5-9, 159). Mathews is a burner, plain and simple, but is at that point where skills and technique need to match the, which UNC WR coach Gunter Brewer talked to him about. "You're so damn fast" Brewer said before explaining a few things. Mathews' eyes were glued to the coach.
*Emeka Emezie from Marvin Ridge HS (NC) received quite a bit of attention from the coaches throughout the camp. A rising junior wide receiver, at 6-2, 195, he actually looks and plays taller and longer. He's a wonderful looking athlete who has skills, hands and should have no trouble growing into a stronger player without losing any natural gifts.
*Another Florida kid, 2017 defensive lineman William Dudley (6-0, 230) drew praise from UNC DL coach Tray Scott in a couple of drills. His technique was excellent in a 4-point stance drill while 2016 Florida DL Kendall Brown (6-3, 259, 2016) was singled out in the 3-point layout drill. He also received quite a bit of attention from Scott and is someone to keep an eye on. His extension, leverage, and workable frame suggests he has a future ahead of him.
*Jalen Lynch (6-2, 258, 2016) didn't get in as many reps as the others because he was dealing with an upper leg injury that both obviously bothering him. In fact, at one point, after a so-so performance on the 4-point drill, Scott told him to take it easy and skip some drills if he had to, adding, "I don't want to send you back to your coach hurt."
*On the performance end, 2017 Charlotte Latin WR Melvin Rouse (5-8, 163) made two incredible catches in the competitive portion of the camp, once as a defensive back and the other as a wide receiver. Both were against Jayvaughn Myers;
*2018 DL Alfred Thomas (6-0, 244) nervously approached Fedora afterward but loosened up quickly when the coach asked, "Did you learn anything, bug fella?" He said he did.
*One thing that stood out more Monday than on Sunday is that the coaches were louder, it was easier to hear what they were telling the players. Perhaps having 54 fewer kids on hand had something to do with that, but at one point during some early running drills, Fedora hollered out to the campers, "Tuck that chin in, you don't need to see where you're going for the first 5-7 yards."
*Tray Scott was a blast to watch work. He loves to teach, noted UNC DL Justin Thomasson, who was on hand working with the defensive linemen. When doing his thing, at one point Scott was a bit annoyed one of the campers wasn't doing the 4-point drill properly, so Scott said, quite loudly, "Do you understand what I'm saying, get that fat ole lineman off of you."
Sunday Camp Report - https://northcarolina.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1772818
CHAPEL HILL - Monday's contingent at UNC's football camp was considerably less than the impressive group that was here Sunday, but what it may have lacked in numbers it made up for in competitiveness and there was enough intrigue to make it a rather interesting session.
None of the 83 campers came to UNC with an offer yet, but a few likely will come out of this workout with the Tar Heels wanting their services. And like Sunday, the state with the most prospects in attendance was Florida with 42 campers. The rest of the state-by-state breakdown: North Carolina 15; Washington, D.C., 9; Alabama 6; South Carolina 4; Georgia 3; West Virginia 2; and 1 each from Texas and Mississippi.
Here is a rundown of the more highly regarded players whom UNC is targeting but hadn't offered prior to Monday's camp and several others of interest or that stood out:
Note: Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik was on hand today.
*The most impressive performer without question was Florida native (East Bay HS) defensive back KJ Sails (5-10, 165). He's very lean but in a good way. He's proportioned well, but will have no trouble adding strength everywhere. He's extremely athletic, agile, can stop on a dime, cuts well, anticipates really well, and gives off the overwhelming scent of a football player.
But perhaps most impressive, and this is saying a lot, but Sails was the best competitor at the camp. In the agility drills, he watched everyone in his group without fail, often encouraging and trying to motivate them. And in some of the more competitive stuff, like going out for and defending passing plays, he was constantly on the field, wasting no time to "go again" as some other players weren't nearly as quick to get onto the field. When he made a mistake or was beaten, which was quite rare, he stayed on the field to make amends.
The rising senior's focus - the look in his eyes - was amazing, as "impressive" isn't a word that does this young man justice. After camp concluded, UNC head coach Larry Fedora approached Sails and said, "I love the way you compete."
*Another defensive back from Florida, Jayvaughn Myers (6-0, 179, Pasco HS), was also quite impressive and drew plenty attention from UNC's coaches. Even during a running drill prior to the players being timed in the 40, Fedora spent some time with him discussing how he starts and puts his hand on the ground. It appeared Myers was listening closely,
*Durham Riverside's Jordan Riley (defensive end) stood out on Sunday and ended up getting an offer from the Tar Heels following camp. On Monday, Riverside DL Marcus Willoughby (6-3, 230, 2016) was on hand and had his moments. He got a lot of attention from DL coach Tray Scott and appeared to respond pretty well to Scott's passionate teaching.
Willoughby has nice extension, good body balance, cut well in drills, and appeared more comfortable in a 3-point stance than with both hands on the ground. He's pretty athletic for someone who gives the appearance of an athlete capable of growing into a D1 defensive lineman.
*Theren Uptigrow (5-11, 200) is an intriguing 2016 linebacker from Orangeburg, SC, HS. A little longer, maybe rangier than the other LBs in attendance, he has really good balance and turned in some excellent work in a drill running between pylons laying on the ground. Basically, it was a drill in which you run front to back and back to front only to be repeated. He didn't come close to slowing his speed or drifting out of a straight line.
Uptigrow was called over to chat for a minute by Fedora after camp concluded. They shook hands and shared some wide smiles.
*Connor Watts is from West Virginia and has a connection with Ryan Switzer, the UNC receiver and punt returner who briefly chatted with Watts during a drill and then later after the workout. Watts (5-10, 190) ran some really crisp routes, has good hands and appears to have the instincts to play at a competitive level.
*Only a few offensive linemen were in attendance, one being 6-5, 341-pound, Madison Ridge, MS, monster Tyler Harris. Harris is quite large and could stand to trim down some, but he moved well and carried the weight as if it wasn't a huge hindrance. But that's in camp and during drills, he has such a large frame that turning some of that into well-rounded muscle while dropping some weight will serve him well and get even more eyes on his development.
*There were a lot of wide receivers at the camp, 21 to be exact, roughly a quarter of the prospects on hand, and one of the fastest was 2017 Florida native DJ Mathews (5-9, 159). Mathews is a burner, plain and simple, but is at that point where skills and technique need to match the, which UNC WR coach Gunter Brewer talked to him about. "You're so damn fast" Brewer said before explaining a few things. Mathews' eyes were glued to the coach.
*Emeka Emezie from Marvin Ridge HS (NC) received quite a bit of attention from the coaches throughout the camp. A rising junior wide receiver, at 6-2, 195, he actually looks and plays taller and longer. He's a wonderful looking athlete who has skills, hands and should have no trouble growing into a stronger player without losing any natural gifts.
*Another Florida kid, 2017 defensive lineman William Dudley (6-0, 230) drew praise from UNC DL coach Tray Scott in a couple of drills. His technique was excellent in a 4-point stance drill while 2016 Florida DL Kendall Brown (6-3, 259, 2016) was singled out in the 3-point layout drill. He also received quite a bit of attention from Scott and is someone to keep an eye on. His extension, leverage, and workable frame suggests he has a future ahead of him.
*Jalen Lynch (6-2, 258, 2016) didn't get in as many reps as the others because he was dealing with an upper leg injury that both obviously bothering him. In fact, at one point, after a so-so performance on the 4-point drill, Scott told him to take it easy and skip some drills if he had to, adding, "I don't want to send you back to your coach hurt."
*On the performance end, 2017 Charlotte Latin WR Melvin Rouse (5-8, 163) made two incredible catches in the competitive portion of the camp, once as a defensive back and the other as a wide receiver. Both were against Jayvaughn Myers;
*2018 DL Alfred Thomas (6-0, 244) nervously approached Fedora afterward but loosened up quickly when the coach asked, "Did you learn anything, bug fella?" He said he did.
*One thing that stood out more Monday than on Sunday is that the coaches were louder, it was easier to hear what they were telling the players. Perhaps having 54 fewer kids on hand had something to do with that, but at one point during some early running drills, Fedora hollered out to the campers, "Tuck that chin in, you don't need to see where you're going for the first 5-7 yards."
*Tray Scott was a blast to watch work. He loves to teach, noted UNC DL Justin Thomasson, who was on hand working with the defensive linemen. When doing his thing, at one point Scott was a bit annoyed one of the campers wasn't doing the 4-point drill properly, so Scott said, quite loudly, "Do you understand what I'm saying, get that fat ole lineman off of you."
Sunday Camp Report - https://northcarolina.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1772818
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