The excitement is beginning to build around Tar Heel football once again as we grow closer and closer to some major decisions from some major Tar Heel targets. With those announcements closing in, here is some information on those targets and some other storylines you may have missed around Tar Heel football.
Zaire Patterson Tells Heels They’re Out
Unfortunately, the Tar Heels have been informed by Patterson, one of their biggest remaining targets in the class, that they will not be a part of his decision that will conclude next Monday. According to multiple sources, the 4✮ WDE informed the Tar Heel staff of his decision on Monday morning, leaving Clemson and South Carolina to likely battle for his commitment in the final week of his recruitment. While this is definitely a tough one to swallow, this probably shouldn’t come as much of a shock. When Patterson revealed that he was going to commit last week, Clemson seemed to be the favorite and the Tar Heels extending an offer to Virginia 3✮ WDE George Wilson almost all but confirmed that there was, at the least, some doubt that they would be able to land him. The Tar Heels definitely seem hellbent on adding another player that fits that RUSH end position in this class and I would expect them to turn up the heat a little on Wilson now that Patterson is off to somewhere in the Palmetto State.
J.J. Jones Expected To Announce His Decision Friday
After moving his decision up from August 5th, Jones made it a bit vague as to when exactly he was going to announce his decision this week. Now, however, we know that the 3✮ wide receiver will announce his commitment sometime on Friday night. The Myrtle Beach, SC product seems to be that final piece that the staff is looking to add to this wide receiver class that already has two talented receivers committed. As of right now, the Tar Heels head in as the heavy favorites to land him, as witnessed by the ten crystal ball predictions he has received since May 5th. Barring something mind-boggling, Jones will be the fifteenth member of the Tar Heels 2021 class.
Three Tar Heels Find Transfer Destinations
It was a big week for a group of Tar Heels in the transfer portal this week, as three former players found their new homes. It started on Friday when former offensive lineman Avery Jones announced that he was transferring to East Carolina for his final three years of eligibility. Later that day, former defensive end Nolan DeFranco announced that he would be finishing up his career at Stetson, where he will be eligible to play immediately. Finally, Greg Ross Jr., a guy who played a significant amount of snaps each of the past two seasons at cornerback for the Tar Heels, announced that he would be transferring to Iowa State. Ross will be a graduate transfer and will be eligible to play immediately.
New Rivals Rankings Come Out
For the first time since mid-March, Rivals released a new set of rankings for the 2021 class. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much change for the current Tar Heels commits, raising a lot of questions from Tar Heel fans. Guys like Keeshawn Silver, Raneiria Dillworth and Power Echols were among those who many thought would see a significant boost this time around, but instead failed to move much at all and remain 3✮’s on their site. The Tar Heels recruiting class currently sits sixth on the recruiting sites 2021 team rankings, the lowest the class sits in any of the three major recruiting sites’ team rankings.