We now sit just a week away from the beginning of the 2020 early signing period and one of the main focuses as we head down the stretch over the next couple of days is locking down two of the most important commitments in the class. Both Jacolby Criswell and Clyde Pinder Jr.’s commitments have been rumored to be wavering as we’ve gotten closer to the early signing period. Let’s update you on where these major recruitment stand as we sit just six days from the opening to the early signing period.
4✮ DUAL Jacolby Criswell
No. 269 overall, No. 11 DUAL
Committed to North Carolina since June 3rd, 2019
Criswell’s recruitment has begun to heat up within the last month. It all started back on November 7th, when Gus Malzahn and the Auburn entered the running for one of the country’s hottest quarterback names in the 2020 class after what had been a phenomenal regular season for the Morrillton, AR native. Just three days later, the hometown Arkansas Razorbacks fired Chad Morris, a move that, yesterday, seemingly removed Auburn from the running for Criswell after they hired the jobless Morris as their offensive coordinator. That move likely means that Morris’ son, Chandler, will follow, just as he did when his dad was at Arkansas. The biggest and only real threat to the Tar Heels has now become the flagship Razorbacks, who have made Criswell their biggest priority since new head coach Sam Pittman got on campus. The new coach went in-home with him earlier this week, but the Tar Heels are going to have the last swing this weekend when they host the quarterback for his official visit with a bulk of the other major commits alongside him. That should give Tar Heel fans some confidence that this staff can do what they need to do, which is to lock up his commitment in the early period.
3✮ DT Clyde Pinder Jr.
No. 439 overall, No. 41 DT
Committed to North Carolina since June 28th, 2019
Like Criswell, Pinder Jr. recruitment has picked up in the final month of the early signing period. The home state Florida Gators popped a late offer on the Seffner, FL native back on November 21st, but it wasn’t until the unofficial visit to campus for the Gators season finale against Florida State that there was any major concern around his commitment to the Tar Heels. The Tar Heels made what was expected to be their final pitch to Pinder this past weekend, when he joined a small handful of commits on campus for their official visit. The smaller group may have allowed for some extra focus on the Tar Heels only nose tackle commit in the class, which has some closer to the situation believing that Pinder commitment may have been solidified enough this past weekend. This weekend is still open for Pinder, but as of right now, nothing has been scheduled, which is a good sign for the Tar Heels out this time. Just like Criswell’s commitment, it’s important that the Tar Heels can convince Pinder to sign in the early period rather than push it back to February, which would play into the favor of the Gators.