Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Add Third 3✮ IOL to 2027 Haul

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The Tar Heels added a second commitment to the 2027 class on Tuesday evening, this time in the form of another 3✮ interior offensive linemen.

As he announced via social media earlier this evening, 2027 3✮ IOL Neal Roberts has committed to the Tar Heels over offers from South Florida, Georgia State and Appalachian State. The commitment comes after Roberts took an official visit to Chapel Hill back on the weekend of May 29th and was impressed by what he saw from the staff according to what he told Inside Carolina in an interview when he placed the team No. 1 on his list at the time.

Roberts, the No. 1706 overall prospect and No. 155 interior offensive lineman in the 2027 class according to Rivals Industry Rankings, hails from Winona High School in Winona, MS. In 2025, Roberts was named a first-team member of the all-state team in the state of Mississippi.

Roberts, who measures in at 6’3, 305 lbs., is a versatile piece along the offensive line. After spending time at both guard and center last year, Roberts played the majority of his junior season at left tackle, meaning he has taken extensive snaps at all three positions along the offensive line. He is very impactful in the run game, constantly driving defenders back of the line of scrimmage and throwing them to the ground. He brings plenty of physicality, but you would like to see him add a little more to his initial punch when he gets to the college level. In pass protection, he handles his own, but it is probably for the best that he moves inside to guard because he doesn’t look as natural when he’s moving laterally as some other tackles. This is another upside pickup for the Tar Heels that will have a very promising frame and the work ethic that this staff can work with.

With his commitment, the Tar Heels now have nine commits in the 2027 class including three on the interior of the offensive line. The commitment doesn’t help the class in the team rankings, though, as they remain 59th in the overall rankings and 16th in the ACC rankings.