The impact that the Tar Heels’ new staff has already had on the 2020 class and this morning's news just continues to build on the early momentum. 2020 3✮ OG Malik McGowan announced via Twitter his commitment to Coach Brown and the Heels earlier this morning following a visit to Chapel Hill this past Saturday. Now he joins a 2020 class for the Heels that has three prospects already committed to class and all hailing from the state of North Carolina.
McGowan has begun preparing for his senior season at Charlotte Catholic High School in Charlotte, NC. The Cougars have developed into one of the state top teams over the few seasons, as they will enter the 2019 season looking for their third straight state championship at the 3A level. McGowan has been a key part of an offensive line that paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged 234.6 yards per game on the ground this past season and 263.9 in the 2017 season. McGowan has started all 47 games that the Cougars have played in the last three seasons at left tackle and was named to the All-Mecklenburg County first team for this past season.
At 6’4, 315 lbs., McGowan has the size to play immediately at the college level when he arrives in the fall of 2020. That size combined with a powerful upper body allows McGowan to simply dominate most of the smaller defensive end that he faces. McGowan will have some work to do when it comes to pass protection, as he will be moving from the Wing-T offense that Charlotte Catholic currently runs to the air raid system of Phil Longo. While there isn't much film on in pass blocking situations, the film that is there shows he handles himself well against quicker defensive ends. The move inside to guard will also help make the learning curve a little easier.
With McGowan’s commitment, the Heels 2020 class is off to a phenomenal start. The class sits at 30th in the nation and 5th in ACC with the three commitments it has already received. As mentioned above, Mack Brown and his staff’s focus on in-state recruiting is paying off, with two major commitments from the Charlotte area in the last month. The 2020 class is off to a great start for the staff and one could only wonder how strong of a class the Heels can reel in once the focus fully turns to the 2020 cycle.
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