In the last week and a half, the Tar Heels have seen their top three quarterback targets in the 2024 class announce their decisions. Despite being a finalist for all three, they finished runner-up in each race and are now left to seek other options. Here is a look at the three names that we think you should keep an eye on now at the quarterback spot as the staff searches for their signal caller in the 2024 class.
Dante Reno
The 4✮ out of the state of Massachusetts was a guy that the staff quietly extended an offer to back in February and should be the player they turn the heat up on the most if he shows interest. Reno, an Under Armour All-American, has been committed to South Carolina since July and still appears to be solid to the Gamecocks right now, but there is something that could possibly open this recruitment back up. Fellow 2024 4✮ Jayden Bradford, who plays at IMG Academy, is originally from Chapin, SC and is very high on the Shane Beamer's team. If he was to commit, it would add another talented quarterback to what is an already loaded quarterback room and that log jam could encourage Reno to reconsider his options. The Tar Heels wouldn’t be alone, though, in pursuing him if this does happen, as Miami offered him back in February as well. For right now, he can’t be the primary focus of the staff with how strong his commitment appears to be, but if he does start to look elsewhere, he should ascend to the top of the priority list.
James Resar
Resar is another committed prospect that the Tar Heels recently offered in hopes of flipping. The 3✮ product from Jacksonville, FL has been committed to Iowa since last September, but the Tar Heels are the first team to offer him since that decision. He is the type of quarterback who could fit more of what Chip Lindsey wants in his quarterbacks as a true dual-threat quarterback that boasts track speed. One would expect that Resar will receive the bulk of the attention from the Tar Heel staff moving forward unless Reno does decommit and that might be hard for Iowa to fend off. With the proximity advantage and a better offensive track record in recent years, it’s hard not to like the Tar Heels' chances in this one if he is receptive.
Trever Jackson
Jackson has yet to receive an offer from the Tar Heels, but this is one that the staff should seriously consider extending at this point. He has a live arm and has been showing it off so far this offseason, earning an Elite 11 invite at the regional camp last weekend in Orlando. He is another guy that possesses the dual threat ability that this staff is looking for in Lindsey’s offense and this staff is one that can help him continue to develop as a passer. Jackson recently released his top schools list of Tulane, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Appalachian State and Florida Atlantic. That is a group that the Tar Heels should be able to navigate if they want to.