Wednesday was early signing day for the 2024 class, as thousands of high school and junior college prospects signed their national letter of intent for the schools they will be heading to. The Tar Heels entered the day with 27 commits in the class and the team was able to have all of them sign before even reaching lunchtime. Later head coach Mack Brown spoke with the media and confirmed that 21 of the 27 players will enroll early for the team as they look to replenish a roster that has lost a lot this offseason. With everyone officially signed, here is an in-depth breakdown of this 2024 Tar Heel class.
Class Rankings
247Sports- Overall: No. 26 | ACC: No. 4
Rivals- Overall: No. 22 | ACC: No. 4
ESPN- Overall: No. 26 | ACC: No. 5
On3- Overall: No. 26 | ACC: No. 5
4✮ S Malcolm Ziglar- Fuquay-Varina (Fuquay-Varina, NC)
247Sports: No. 176 overall, No. 16 S
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 51 CB
ESPN: No. 210 overall, No. 21 S
On3: No. 54 overall, No. 4 S
Composite: No. 166 overall, No. 14 S
Ziglar’s tape is an exciting one to watch. He is yet another versatile defensive back that can play either safety or corner. His speed is elite and shows up constantly in many different aspects of the game. His ability to close on the football combines well with his ability to play the football to make him a lethal turnover threat to opposing quarterbacks. His coverage skills are very strong for both a corner and safety and he thrives in both zone and man coverage, which fits the Tar Heels defensive scheme well. You would like to see him get a little more aggressive in run defense, which should come as time progress, but there is no denying his athleticism and coverage ability overshadow this concern. The Tar Heels are looking for some help at safety with both starters departing this offseason and Ziglar looks like he fits that perfectly and he has the skillset to come in and make an impact immediately.
4✮ WR Jordan Shipp- Providence Day School (Charlotte, NC)
247Sports: No. 212 overall, No. 34 WR
Rivals: No. 123 overall, No. 26 WR
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 71 WR
On3: No. 261 overall, No. 44 WR
Composite: No. 230 overall, No. 38 WR
Shipp is one of the most complete wide receivers in the 2024 recruiting class. He thrives in all three levels of the passing, doing his most damage at that intermediate level on and inside the numbers. He has the route-running ability to create separation and the height and explosiveness to win the 50/50 balls. He has some of the most reliable hands in this class and makes the difficult catches look easy. After he catches the ball, he can be a bit of a menace in the open field with his ability to stop and start and the straight-line speed that he possesses. He showed this year as a senior that the sky's the limit for what he can be in Chapel Hill.
4✮ DB Jaiden Patterson- Mill Creek (Hoschton, GA)
247Sports: No. 172 overall, No. 14 ATH
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA CB
ESPN: No. 224 overall, No. 24 S
On3: No. 257 overall, No. 28 S
Composite: No. 297 overall, No. 34 ATH
Patterson is a versatile addition to this class in the defensive backfield. He thrived in the snaps that he took at safety, outside corner and nickelback and could have an effect at any of those spots at the college level. His tremendous speed not only shows up on special teams but in 1-on-1 coverage where he stays right in the pocket of receivers. That speed also shows up when he is closing on the ball in the open field and he combines that with some strong tackling ability. The Tar Heels will have to figure out the position that he fits best at, but this is one of the more talent members of this class that can contribute in multiple ways right out of the gate, especially on special teams.
4✮ S Tyshun White- Buford (Buford, GA)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 60 S
Rivals: No. 113 overall, No. 10 S
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 38 S
On3: No. NA overall, No. 86 S
Composite: No. 355 overall, No. 39 S
White is a very solid addition to this safety room that is in need of talent and depth. His strong suit is playing downhill stopping the run, but he is a pretty complete player. He has really good speed that allows him to cover a lot of space quickly and he is a punishing tackler, especially when he is playing the run. There is still more to learn about him when it comes to pass coverage because of how run based high school offenses are, but there is a lot of potential there. Add in the special teams ability both as a returner and coverage man and this looks like a guy who could contribute immediately and develop into a big part of what the team does at safety moving forwards.
4✮ WR Alex Taylor- Grimsley (Greensboro, NC)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 58 WR
Rivals: No. 196 overall, No. 35 WR
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 54 WR
On3: No. NA overall, No. 66 WR
Composite: No. 359 overall, No. 59 WR
Taylor might possess the most raw talent of the three receivers the team has committed in this 2024 class, but has taken a fall down the ranking because of a quieter senior season. He, like Shipp, is a guy that can affect the passing game at all three levels, but he really shines in the deep and intermediate portions of the field. His route running is absolutely sensational and allows him to create separation with ease. His ability to go up and win 50/50 balls might be the best in this class and is sorely needed in this wide receiver room right now. He isn’t the most dynamic player after the catch that you’ll ever see, but he has some twitch that allows him to break some tackles after he uses it to create space to catch the ball. Just like Shipp, there is enough there for him to push for an immediate rotational role on the outside.
4✮ CB Zion Ferguson- Gainesville (Gainesville, GA)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 54 CB
Rivals: No. 147 overall, No. 19 CB
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 39 CB
On3: No. NA overall, No. 82 CB
Composite: No. 392 overall, No. 32 CB
Ferguson gives the Tar Heels the rangy outside corner that the team is in need of with what they have added to the room in the last two recruiting cycles. He is exactly what this defensive staff is looking for with how much he thrives as a zone corner. He has the short-area quickness that allows him to close on the football quickly, which is shown often in both his sophomore and junior film. He does an outstanding job of playing the football and this year it paid off with those three interceptions. He shows the desire to contribute in run defense and is able to make some plays in space as a tackler. The level of competition is no issue at all, even with him playing his senior year at a little bit of a smaller school in Georgia. At 6’0, 161 lbs., adding some weight to his frame will be important, but this is a tremendous pick up for the Tar Heels cornerback room that is in need of an upgrade in talent overall.
4✮ OT Andrew Rosinski- Creekview (Canton, GA)
247Sports: No. 194 overall, No. 18 OT
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 59 OT
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 44 OT
On3: No. NA overall, No. 62 OT
Composite: No. 449 overall, No. 35 OT
Rosinski’s tape shows why he has been an all-state in one of the best high school football states in the country. The Tar Heel are in need of the physical guys up front and his biggest strength is the level of physicality that he plays with. He has really good hand placement, which allows him to drive guys back off the line of scrimmage and toss them aside like rag dolls when he needs to. He has a really strong first step, especially in run blocking situations when he goes downhill and he does a good job of keeping a low pad level. He showed some nice athleticism in space on a couple of plays and moves well for someone of his size. The level of competition is not an issue either with him playing at the 6A level in the state of Georgia. He will have to add more weight to play at the next level, but it’s not something that should take to long once he gets into the strength and conditioning program. The biggest question mark is him as a pass protector, but with how well he moves there is reason to be encouraged. This is a really solid pickup for this Tar Heel staff that could develop into an important part of this offensive line in the future.
3✮ RB Davion Gause- Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood, FL)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 45 RB
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 18 RB
ESPN: No. 299 overall, No. 22 RB
On3: No. NA overall, No. 86 RB
Composite: No. 494 overall, No. 41 RB
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 whenever he joins the Tar Heels this offseason and needs to answer some questions as to why he had his role reduced this year, but he is a guy that, based on what you see on film, should be able to battle for significant reps starting next year.
3✮ WR Javarius Green- Crest (Shelby, NC)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 68 WR
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 90 WR
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 73 WR
On3: No. NA overall, No. 58 WR
Composite: No. 515 overall, No. 72 WR
Green is the perfect piece to couple with the other two receivers the team has committed in this class. He fits the mold of the slot receivers that Lonnie Galloway uses in his offense with the ability to create separation with route running. His 4.39 40-yard dash speed shows up constantly in his film both before and after the catch and his acceleration is outstanding. That speed combines with his shiftiness as a ball carrier and makes him a threat to take it to the house every time he touches it. He does a tremendous job of finding the right pockets to settle in on route in the middle of the field, making it easy for his quarterback to find him on important plays. With Doc Chapman having left in the transfer portal, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Green could appear on the two deep in the slot in the next couple of years, especially if Kobe Paysour makes a move to the outside full time. For now, though, he could be reserved to a special teams role while he waits his turn.
3✮ S Jalon Thompson- Olympia (Orlando, FL)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 76 S
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 68 S
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 52 S
On3: No. NA overall, No. 52 S
Composite: No. 609 overall, No. 63 S
Thompson gives the Tar Heels another versatile piece in this defensive backfield class. The all-region track runner has really good speed that shows up on his tape, especially when in 1-on-1 coverage. He had nice success in both man and zone coverage wherever he played and he does a tremendous job of making plays on the football. He isn’t doesn’t show up a lot in run defense as a safety, but he makes enough of an impact there for someone who plays outside corner. Figuring out where he fits best will take time, but with his speed and nose for the football, he will have a chance to make an impact early on special teams.
3✮ LB Ashton Woods- Walton (Marietta, GA)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 97 LB
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 17 ILB
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 38 ILB
On3: No. NA overall, No. 50 LB
Composite: No. 634 overall, No. 57 LB
Woods is a perfect fit for what the Tar Heels are looking for in their linebackers and almost perfectly compliments what the team already has in this class. Mack Brown brought up the lack of being able to stop the run in his press conference again on Tuesday and that is where Woods thrives. He plays with the aggressive downhill mentality that all three linebackers in this class play with, but he is clearly the most impactful of the three. He does a great job of reading the gaps and makes himself thin to slip through and drop running backs for little or no gain. He doesn’t showcase the sideline-to-sideline ability often on his tape, but the athleticism is very evident. He looks very fluid in coverage, especially for a linebacker and has good enough closing speed to make plays on the football and ball carriers when he needs to. He should be an immediate contributor for the team on special teams when he arrives next year and could compete for a rotational role if he can prove he can cover in space.
3✮ ATH Curtis Simpson- Kings Mountain (Kings Mountain, NC)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 62 ATH
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 26 WDE
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 61 DE
On3: No. NA overall, No. 82 EDGE
Composite: No. 711 overall, No. 48 ATH
Simpson is the definition of developmental edge rusher when he arrives on campus. At 6’3, 200 lbs. he has a nice frame, but he will have to add weight once he gets to campus to be able to compete at the edge rusher position. The key, though, will be to keep the speed that makes him such an impactful player at the prep level. He constantly beats people with his burst off the line of scrimmage and his first step is tremendous and makes it even harder for tackles to stay in front of him. He does a great job of keeping offensive linemen from getting their hands on him with the club and rip and utilizes the swim move well when he has to. As a more technical pass rusher, he will have to get a bit more creative with his moves at the next level, but he will also have to learn how to become a little more physical once he adds the muscle. He fits the montra of the undersized edge rushers that they can mold in their system when they get to campus.
3✮ DL Peter Pesansky- Jesuit (Tampa, FL)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 115 DL
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 24 SDE
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 67 DT
On3: No. NA overall, No. 93 DL
Composite: No. 721 overall, No. 80 DL
Pesansky has made a living in the backfield and has the skillset to make that happen at the college level, as well. At 6’3, 276 lbs., he has a pretty good frame, especially if he is going to eventually end up playing inside. His ability to shed blocks is outstanding and his technical pass rushing techniques have to be some of the best in this class. He does a great job of mixing those pass rushing moves up and combines that with some nice short area quickness and burst. Physicality is not the way he wins most reps, but it’s not something that is completely foreign to him. He will have to get more physical if he wants to develop into a consistent starter at some point in the future. Just like with many of the team's other commits in this class, figuring out where Pesansky will also play a big role is important towards determining how big an impact he’ll be able to make at this level.
3✮ LB Crews Law- CPA (Nashville, TN)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 93 LB
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 23 ILB
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 20 ILB
On3: No. NA overall, No. 86 LB
Composite: No. 856 overall, No. 75 LB
Law gives the Tar Heels another downhill linebacker to that room. He does a great job of meeting ball carriers in the gaps, especially inside the tackles, and makes them pay when he gets there. He plays with a physical edge that allows him to fight through blocks and make plays at the line of scrimmage or in the backfield. While he may thrive playing that downhill role, he does have outstanding sideline-to-sideline ability and closing speed that allows him to make plays in space. He is an aggressive player in space, but he takes smart angles to the football and does a good job of wrapping up when tackling. The area where he needs the most work is dropping into coverage, something he simply didn’t do much of at the high school. The few times that he did drop, it was obvious he couldn’t offer much and there was a lot of stiffness in his hips. This is something that he certainly has the ability to improve, but it’s what will prevent him from playing early, especially in the Tar Heels system which asks a lot out of the linebackers in recent years.
3✮ OT Desmond Jackson- West Forsyth (Clemmons, NC)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 103 OT
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA OT
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 48 OG
On3: No. NA overall, No. 53 IOL
Composite: No. 865 overall, No. 63 OT
Jackson will bring a physical presence to the offensive line, especially in the run game. He simply overpowers defensive linemen and finishes many of them off with pancake blocks. He has the frame to come in and become an immediate factor and he moves fairly well for a player of his size. He will have work to do as a pass protector considering he didn’t have to do it much at the high school level, but with his frame, it shouldn’t be that concerning considering he could probably move inside to guard to capitalize on his abilities as a run blocker.
3✮ IOL/DL Jani Norwood- Eastern Randolph (Ramseur, NC)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 135 IOL
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 54 OT
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 81 OG
On3: No. NA overall, No. 71 IOL
Composite: No. 877 overall, No. 65 IOL
When evaluating Norwood, it is important to note that the Tar Heels don’t really have a specific spot that they are wanting to play him at right now. According to Inside Carolina’s Don Callahan in the piece written about Norwood’s commitment, he has talked to both Randy Clements and Tim Cross and they have basically left it up to him to decide on which position he feels fits him best. Norwood definitely appears to be more impactful on the offensive side of the football and that is personally where I think he will have the most impact, but it may be too early to tell. Another fall where he will split the reps along the two sides of the football should help to provide a little more clarity here.
The reason that I would lean with him sticking on the offensive side of the football is because of just how good of a run blocker he really is. His junior film is chock-full of reps where he simply washes out defensive linemen on the regular and overpowers them with his heavy hands and upper body strength. There aren’t a ton of clips of him working in pass protection, but the ones that are out there show him moving pretty well and some really promising footwork. On the defensive side of the ball, he works the swim move really well and does show up a lot in the opposing backfield out of a 3-tech defensive tackle spot, but for some reason, his physicality doesn’t translate over nearly as well. Regardless of what position he plays, there will be a steep learning curve for him considering he plays at the lowest level of football in the state. Because of that, he is a developmental prospect in this class that will likely take some time to make an impact when he arrives.
3✮ LB Evan Bennett- Gatewood School (Eatonton, GA)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 74 LB
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA ILB
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 47 ILB
On3: No. NA overall, No. 53 LB
Composite: No. 891 overall, No. 77 LB
Bennett is an extremely raw prospect, to say the least. His athleticism and versatility are the strengths of his game right now, but figuring out where he fits will be a challenge for this staff. He is a really solid tackler and looks good when he has to drop into coverage, but doesn’t show a lot of physicality on film and isn’t faced with a lot of situations where he is forced to shed blocks to make plays. The biggest concern with him, though, is the level of competition he faced at the GIAA 2A level. It’s obvious when you turn on the film that he is playing a lot of undersized and overmatched competition. This is a prospect that as of right now will be a project for this staff when he arrives to Chapel Hill.
3✮ DB Khalil Conley- Christ School (Arden, NC)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 88 ATH
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA ATH
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 35 ATH
On3: No. NA overall, No. 89 CB
Composite: No. 927 overall, No. 74 ATH
Conley is as explosive of an athlete as anyone in this class. He was a major part of all three units for Christ School a year ago and will be a valuable asset that will be able to make an impact early. He has some of the best pure speed and acceleration of any player in this entire class and it shows up on his film. He simply flies around defensively and uses that speed to make plays on the football and on ball carriers. On special teams, it shows up in the return and coverage games, making him a special teams ace. Like many others, finding the position that fits him best will be important for him to be a contributor in the defensive backfield in the near future. If he could find a way to settle in at safety, that would be ideal and it feels like that makes the most sense, but he could be an impact player in the slot as a nickel corner, as well. He will have to add weight to his frame, but, at the least, he will be able to make an immediate impact on special teams.
3✮ TE Timothy Lawson- Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, FL)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 71 TE
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA TE
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 36 TE-H
On3: No. NA overall, No. 20 TE
Composite: No. 927 overall, No. 48 TE
With Lawson, the Tar Heels are getting yet another player that has a ton of potential if he sticks with football. At 6’5, 220 lbs, he has a really solid frame already and he pairs that with some really promising athleticism. He does an outstanding job of stretching the field, thriving in the intermediate and deep passing games, something the Tar Heels could use once Bryson Nesbit departs. He does a good job of finding open grass and separation and always seems to find space after the catch. Blocking, as with many high school tight ends, is the biggest question mark, but from the reps he has on his tape, there is a lot of promise there. The bigger concern with him is the level of competition that he played against in the 2S classification in the state of Florida, which isn’t nearly as arduous as some of the other classifications in the state.
3✮ EDGE Daniel Anderson- Germantown (Germantown, TN)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 69 EDGE
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 55 SDE
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 58 DE
On3: No. NA overall, No. 89 EDGE
Composite: No. 939 overall, No. 61 EDGE
Anderson jumps off the tape with his quickness off the edge. His release off the line of scrimmage is really strong and causes problems for tackles. That jump off the ball allows him to beat many defenders inside and make plays in the backfield. He combines that quick release with good speed that allows him to track down ball carriers and quarterbacks at a pretty high rate. He is a strong tackler that doesn’t miss many tackles when he has a chance to make a play. Physicality will be the biggest question with him since he consistently wins with speed, but there are some moments where he holds up well inside against some of the bigger linemen he faced. Anderson is a bit of a developmental prospect and probably won’t make an immediate impact, but he isn’t nearly as much of a project as he looked to be early in the process. This is a very solid, high upside addition for the Tar Heels.
3✮ OT Luke Masterson- Franklin Road Academy (Nashville, TN)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 59 OT
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA OT
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 116 OT
On3: No. NA overall, No. 58 OT
Composite: No. 964 overall, No. 71 OT
Masterson will be another offensive lineman in this class that will need to be developed by this staff. At 6’6, 275 lbs., he plays with a thin frame and that is evidenced by turning on his film. He is very athletic and moves well laterally, which helps him stay in front of edge rushers in pass protection. His athleticism allows him to thrive in pull-blocking situations and screen-blocking situations out on the edge. The question with Masterson is going to be whether or not he has the ability to win at the line of scrimmage in run-blocking situations. You don’t see him overpowering defensive linemen the way that you do with the other two commits in this class and the mean streak doesn’t show up. That is something that you are hoping the Tar Heel staff can drag out of him when he arrives to campus. Masterson will probably take some time to make an impact when he arrives in Chapel Hill, but with his athleticism and pass protection ability, he certainly has what it takes to factor in at tackle spots eventually.
3✮ IOL Aidan Banfield- Mill Creek (Hoschton, GA)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 80 IOL
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA OG
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 27 OG
On3: No. NA overall, No. 79 IOL
Composite: No. 989 overall, No. 75 IOL
Banfield is another prospect along the offensive line that has some developing to do but provides plenty of upside. Physicality is the name of the game for him on the interior, as he registers a ton of pancake blocks, especially in run-blocking scenarios. He has some nice athleticism, which allows him to thrive on pull blocks and steamroll defenders in the open field once he turns upfield. That athleticism also translates well in pass protection with his promising lateral movement and combines with his powerful hands to allow him to wall off interior pass rushers. The biggest concern with him is his size since he is going to be playing either the guard or center position. At 6’3, 280 lbs., he needs to add a decent amount of weight before he can contribute at the college level, but there is a lot to like technically about his game. This is another offensive line prospect that will bring a lot of promise with him to Chapel Hill.
3✮ QB Michael Merdinger- Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 69 QB
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. 29 PRO
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 53 QB-PP
On3: No. NA overall, No. 66 QB
Composite: No. 1002 overall, No. 61 QB
Merdinger got the chance to become a full-time quarterback again this season after sitting at the Florida powerhouse last season and showed why the Tar Heel took a risk on him. He has a powerful arm and showed it off often, helping to create an extremely explosive offense for Cardinal Gibbons. He has really solid footwork, setting his feet well when he has a clean pocket allowing him to drive the football. He doesn’t take off and run often, but he has the ability to move the pocket and evade pressure and when he does take off, he looks natural. He looked good throwing on the run, but wasn’t pressured much on tape. There is a lot to like about Merdinger’s game and it’s hard to think if he hadn’t sat last year he wouldn’t be ranked higher.
3✮ TE Ryan Ward- Rutherford (Rutherford, NJ)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 90 TE
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA ATH
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 9 TE-Y
On3: No. NA overall, No. 46 TE
Composite: No. 1103 overall, No. 59 TE
Ward is a nice addition to this class that seems a little underrated by the recruiting sites based on his tape. He spent most of his time split out wide as a receiver because of just how athletic he is and that athleticism shows up both before and after the catch. Playing on the outside has helped him to develop a better route tree than some receivers and he is a really strong route runner for a tight end. While he may play like a receiver in most instances, he does show some nice physicality with the football in his hands, which allows him to gain extra yards. The biggest reason it will take him time to get on the field, though, is his blocking ability. While there are some of the traits there, he does all of his blocking against corners and with a small frame. Adding to his frame and developing him as a blocker will be crucial for the team to do once they get him on campus, but this is a solid addition for Freddie Kitchens to this room.
3✮ DL Leroy Jackson- Lee County (Leesburg, GA)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 139 DL
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA DT
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 33 DT
On3: No. NA overall, No. 146 DL
Composite: No. 1132 overall, No. 120 DL
Jackson’s film shows a lot of promise. He has a good first step of the line of scrimmage, which allows him to make a lot of plays in the backfield. He does a good job of shedding blockers and uses a nice combination of speed and power to get it done. He has some nice athleticism that he has been able to show with how successful he has been rushing off the edge this season. To make it at the college level, he will have to add more strength and build upon his one year of production, but with the season he has put together it is worth the risk.
3✮ CB Tyrane Stewart- East Mississippi Community College (Scooba, MS)
247Sports: No. 59 overall, No. 6 JUCO CB
Rivals: No. NA JUCO overall, No. NA JUCO CB
ESPN: No. NA JUCO overall, No. 9 JUCO CB
On3: No. NA JUCO overall, No. NA JUCO CB
Composite: No. 58 JUCO overall, No. 5 JUCO CB
Stewart is a nice low-risk, high-reward pick up for the Tar Heels. He looks very natural on film, opening his hips very fluidly and has the speed to stay with receivers on deep routes. He is at his best in press man situations, which shows up often on his tape and he does a great job of staying locked on to his receiver and making plays on the football. His physicality shows up in those press man reps and it is a part of the reason why he is one of the team’s leading tacklers.
3✮ K/P Lucas Osada- Woodberry Forest (Woodberry Forest, VA)
247Sports: No. NA overall, No. 6 K
Rivals: No. NA overall, No. NA P
ESPN: No. NA overall, No. 24 K
On3: No. NA overall, No. NA K
Composite: No. 2200 overall, No. 3 K
Osada showcases a powerful leg on his film. His hangtime is impressive, but it doesn’t take away from the distance that he is able to get on the football. That leg strength also shows up on kickoffs. You don’t see many clips of him having to pin opponents deep, so the accuracy is a bit of a mystery. Still, there is a lot to like about his future as a punter, the position where it feels like he will play when he gets to the next level. He’ll get a chance to battle for the backup job immediately when he arrives on campus.