Entering his official visit to Chapel Hill this weekend, there was plenty of concern about Jacolby Criswell staying committed to Carolina’s 2020 class. Honestly, why wouldn’t there have been? It is well known that Criswell has had always liked the idea of starring as the starter for the home state at Arkansas and new coach Sam Pittman had made an immediate priority since taking over the in Fayetteville a couple of weeks ago. His in-home visit raised the blood pressure a little higher. However, Criswell didn’t cancel his scheduled official visit to Chapel Hill this weekend and boy is that paying off.
Criswell tweet on Sunday morning “This UNC love is just different” ahead of his final day on campus as part of his official visit weekend. That comment alone has to be having Tar Heel fans feeling good about where he stands with his commitment, but his comments to Inside Carolina and Tar Heel Illustrated should have Tar Heel fans as confident as they have ever been that he will be a part of this 2020 class. Criswell confirmed to both major outlets that he is planning to sign with the Tar Heels this Wednesday during the early signing period, a huge relief for this staff. The persistence of Phil Longo, who had built on a relationship that he previously established at Ole Miss, paid off with a big time quarterback commitment.
The Tar Heels have now brought in back-to-back 4✮ Elite 11 quarterbacks to help revitalize a once talent stricken quarterback group. If redshirt freshman Jace Ruder returns, the Tar Heels would have a three-deep at the position of all former 4✮s, a good sign for a staff that is looking to recruit at a high level.
Criswell will head to Carolina off of a phenomenal season at Morrilton High School in Morrilton, AR. He earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors in the state of Arkansas while throwing for 2,869 yards and 27 touchdowns and adding 1,282 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground. He finishes his high school career with 5,925 passing yards, 2,568 rushing yards and 99 touchdowns in his prep career. Back in the summer, Criswell, the No. 11 DUAL according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, finished as one of the top eleven quarterbacks at the Elite 11 camp in Frisco, TX while amongst some of the nations best gunslingers in the 2020 class.
Solidifying Criswell’s commitment was the plan for this staff this weekend and they accomplished exactly that on the final weekend of the early signing period. With Criswell commitment now locked down, the Tar Heels can put their full focus on Clyde Pinder Jr., as they try to hold on to his services, as well.
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