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2016 North Carolina Recruiting Class: The momentum of a strong 2015 season on the field carried over into a nice recruiting class full of lots and lots of prospects. Just about every position need is being addressed with a few options.

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North Carolina Football Recruiting Class Overview

It’s a really, really big class, and while there might not be any killers coming in like some of the ACC’s big boys, there are more than enough very good prospects to hope that some of them hit big. Recruiting is a contact sport – the more contacts you make, the better your chances, and this year’s haul casts a wide net.

The Class Is Heavy On …

Defensive backs. It’s a huge recruiting class with a little of something for everyone including a couple of high-end quarterbacks in Logan Byrd and Chazz Surratt, along with two big-time tight ends in Garrett Walston and Noah Turner. The secondary is loaded, especially with good-looking safeties led by Patrice Rene, Myles Dorn and Greg Ross. Throw in D.J. Ford and Myles Wolfolk, and the defense is getting a wave of talent.

The Star of the Class Is …

LB Jonathan Smith, 6-0, 229 – Guard Jay-Jay McCargo is a future starter, and getting LB J.B. Copeland from the JUCO ranks was good for the outside, but once Smith puts on a little weight, he has the quickness and skill to eventually be the team’s leading tackler. Even though he might need a year or so in the weight room, he has the game to see meaningful time early on. Notre Dame, Michigan and Michigan State were the other leaders for his services.

The Team’s Biggest 2016 Depth Chart Hole Is …

Linebacker. Considering the team ended its season getting run over by the Baylor ground game, losing experience at linebacker isn’t a plus. QB Marquise Williams is a huge loss, but most of the offense is back. The defense returns almost everyone up front and in the secondary, but Shakeel Rashad and Jeff Schoettmer leave holes at linebacker about to be filled in by some young options. This might be the key to the UNC season, at least on D.

2016 North Carolina Football Recruiting Class

Jordon Brown- RB 5-10 180 Durham, N.C. Southern
Logan Byrd- QB 6-3 230 Warner Robins, Ga. Veterans
Kyree Campbell DT 6-4 305 Woodbridge, Va. Woodbridge
Allen Cater DE 6-4 240 Hiram, Ga. Mt. Paran Christian School
J.B. Copeland- LB 6-3 225 Southlake, Texas Southlake Carroll/Navarro College
Nolan DeFranco DE 6-6 230 Winter Garden, Fla. West Orange
Myles Dorn- DB 6-2 185 Charlotte, N.C. Vance
Marlon Dunlap DT 6-4 300 Charlotte, N.C. West Charlotte
Luke Elder OL 6-4 290 LaGrange, Ga. LaGrange
D.J. Ford DB 6-3 195 Ashland, Ala. Central
Tomon Fox DE 6-3 235 Lawrenceville, Ga. Collins Hill
Rontavius Groves WR 5-11 175 Nashville, Tenn. Pearl-Cohn
Tyrone Hopper LB 6-4 210 Roswell, Ga. Roswell
Roscoe Johnson WR 6-1 180 Jonesville, S.C. Union County
Jay-Jay McCargo OL 6-4 300 Alexandria, Va. Bishop O’Connell
James Pierre DB 6-0 170 Deerfield Beach, Fla. Deerfield Beach
Tyler Pritchett OL 6-3 300 Auburn, Ala. Auburn
Patrice Rene DB 6-2 200 Alexandria, Va. Episcopal
Dominique Ross LB 6-3 210 Jacksonville, Fla. Trinity Christian Academy
Greg Ross DB 6-1 175 Temple Hills, Md. Potomac
K.J. Sails DB 5-11 165 Riverview, Fla. East Bay
Jonathan Smith- LB 6-1 230 Laurinburg, N.C. Scotland
Chazz Surratt QB 6-3 205 Denver, N.C. East Lincoln
Noah Turner TE 6-3 245 Mundelein, Ill. Carmel Catholic
Garrett Walston- TE 6-4 225 Wilmington, N.C. New Hanover
Myles Wolfolk- DB 6-0 190 Upper Marlboro, Md. Wise

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