Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the first big weekend of spring visits, the Tar Heels have landed another commitment in the 2024 class.
Earlier this afternoon, 2024 4✮ RB Davion Gause committed to the Tar Heels via social media. His commitment comes after his first ever visit to Chapel Hill over the weekend which clearly blew him away. Gause also held offers from Florida State, Miami, and UCF, which he has taken multiple visits to in the last year.
Gause, the No. 20 running back in the 2024 class according to 247Sports Composite player rankings, is preparing for his final season at Chaminade-Madonna High School in Hollywood, FL. Last year as a junior, Gause ran for 1,142 yards and 19 touchdowns, helping lead the charge for the Lions who won the first-ever state title in the state’s new 1M classification.
He had an even bigger sophomore season for the Lions, where they took home the state title for the 3A classification in the state. His 1,876 rushing yards were the tenth-most in the state and the most of any player at the 3A level. He also finished the season with 17 rushing touchdowns.
Gause also had very nice production as a freshman while splitting time with current Miami running back Thaddieus Franklin III. In the shortened 2020 season, he ran for 762 yards and six touchdowns, all while averaging 9.4 yards per carry. The Lions would fall in the 3A state final that year to Trinity Christian Academy.
Gause’s commitment will give the Tar Heels a physical, downhill presence in their backfield. At 5’11, 215 lbs, he has a low center of gravity and does a good job of keeping his pad level low when he runs. He is an extremely decisive runner who doesn’t waste time with unnecessary moves and shakes in the open field, which allows him to pick up first downs easier than other backs at the high school level. He has solid, but not spectacular speed, but he makes up for it with his physicality that he uses to simply throw defenders aside at times. He comes from a school that has produced a ton of college level talent, so the level of competition is not something to be concerned about. He may have to add just a few more pounds when he joins the Tar Heels next offseason, but other than that, he is a guy that should be able to battle for significant reps early in his career if they are available.
This is a very significant addition to the Tar Heels 2024 class, which now has a nice headliner. Not only does this commitment allow for the team to take a significant jump in the 2024 Composite team rankings up to 34th overall, but it is a commitment that comes from right in Miami’s backyard. Larry Porter and the rest of the staff have their work cut for themselves to hold onto this commitment, but would be a pretty sizable statement to coaches in that area.