Friday is a massive day for the Tar Heels on the recruiting trail, with three major targets in the 2023 class revealing their decisions. There has been some nice success in the realm of recruiting lately for Carolina, but Friday packed a punch in terms of the number of guys announcing as well as the caliber.
The day got underway right at noon when 2023 4✮ EDGE Jaybron Harvey chose Mack Brown and the Tar Heels via social media. The Tar Heels land his commitment after fending off South Carolina, Louisville and Oklahoma, who all had their chances with official visits in the last month.
Harvey, the No. 25 edge rusher in the 2023 class according to 247Sports Composite team rankings, is getting ready for his senior season just down the road from Chapel Hill at Southern Durham High School in Durham, NC. He is coming off of a junior season in 2021 where he was one of the most productive pass rushers in the entire country, finishing with 129 total tackles, 35.0 tackles for loss and 28.5 sacks, the latter of which ranked second nationally according to MaxPreps. Somehow, he was only able to land second team all-state honors from HighSchoolOT.com. He also caught six passes for 115 yards and a touchdown while playing some tight end for the team. Prior to that, Harvey had some sizable production as a sophomore, too, tallying 35 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks while playing in just three games in the shortened spring season.
Harvey is as electrifying as it gets on tape at the edge rusher position. His explosive bursts off the line of scrimmage are extremely exciting to watch as is his pure speed off the edge. Those two factors are a big part of why he can win so many reps, especially against slower offensive tackles and pull blocks. He has a 4.59 40 time which showcases just how fast he is and he combines that with a high motor to hunt down and make plays in the backfield. He has some nice length to go with that speed, as well at 6’3, but will have to add some more weight to his frame with him currently at just 215. He doesn’t have to play with a lot of physicality, which makes sense considering how fast he is, but that speed won’t win him as many reps at the next level, so he will need to be able to pack more of a punch. Still, this is a young man with immense physical gifts that can’t be denied and could allow him to factor in early if he can succeed in the weight room.
With the commitment, the Tar Heels’ 2023 class has now jumped up to 33rd overall in the 247Sports Composite team rankings and 8th in the ACC. The Tar Heels have been looking for headliner type prospects to add at the top of this class and the addition of Harvey certainly gives them one.