The 2020 class for the Tar Heels grew to sixteen members on Saturday following the conclusion of Mack Brown’s first annual Showtime Camp. That’s when 3✮ ATH Jefferson Boaz committed to Carolina in front of Mack Brown and his staff before taking to Twitter to make it official.
Boaz, the son of former Mack Brown-era Tar Heel Jay Boaz, might be the most interesting piece that the Heels will have in the 2020 class, as the 6’8, 235 lbs. rising senior has played everywhere from tight end to defensive end to quarterback. As a junior last year at East Surry High School in Pilot Mountain, NC, Boaz threw for 1,611 yards and posted a 20-6 TD-INT after taking over the starting job that NC State commit Stephen Gosnell held early in the year. Boaz also ran for 209 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries and caught 14 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Boaz racked up 37 total tackles, 9.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks as a starter at defensive end. He helped lead East Surry to the 1AA state title game, where they fell to 1AA powerhouse Tarboro. As a sophomore, Boaz threw for 463 yards and posted a 6-4 TD-INT and finished with 21 total tackles. As a freshman, Boaz totaled 25 total tackles.
With the Heels already having two quarterbacks committed in the 2020 class, Boaz will almost certainly be looked at as a tight end or defensive end when he arrives in Chapel Hill. Boaz seems like a slightly better fit at defensive end, where his size allows him to affect most play. Boaz is a good tackler in open space, but one concern will be his speed, which is limited. That’s the reason that he might not be a fit at tight end, but his size and reliable hands could allow him to land there. Boaz will be an interesting player to keep an eye on once Jay Bateman or Phil Longo gets ahold of him.
Boaz’s commitment continues to build upon what has been an impressive start to the 2020 class. The Heels class has been bouncing back and force between 10th and 11th over the last few days, but with Boaz’s commitment, the Heels have been propelled back up 9th overall in the 247sports Composite rankings and 3rd in the ACC rankings.