North Carolina recruited very well under Butch Davis, and after a disappointing 2012 class, the Tar Heel faithful could have been reasonably concerned about the recruiting prowess of new head coach Larry Fedora. After assembling a top-five class in the conference in 2013 and putting together one of the best early 2014 classes in the country, those worries can be put to rest.
North Carolina football recruiting 2014: Fedora getting to work early
North Carolina has a very impressive recruiting class early in the 2014 period.
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
North Carolina’s 2014 class ranks No. 17 in the 247Sports composite, an improvement from No. 28 for 2013 and No. 42 for 2012. It also ranks fourth in the ACC, behind Miami, Florida State and Clemson.
Much of that ranking has to do with the sheer size of the class -- North Carolina has 21 commitments and has not added one since late August, when it secured the commitment of local running back Elijah Hood.
Top Tar Heels
Hood is the star of the class for the Tar Heels. The running back out of Charlotte Catholic (N.C.) High School is considered a four-star by the 247Sports composite. He is rated as the fifth-best running back in the country and the second-best player in the state.
Bentley Spain is a key part of North Carolina’s class. The offensive tackle is from Providence (N.C.) High School and is considered a four-star by the 247Sports composite. He is rated as the 13th-best offensive tackle in the country and the sixth-best player in the state.
Caleb Henderson is another big part of Fedora’s 2014 class. The quarterback from Lake Braddock (Va.) High School is considered a four-star by the 247sports composite. He is ranked as the seventh-best pro-style quarterback in the country and the seventh-best player in the state.
Jeremiah Clarke is a top talent for North Carolina’s class. The defensive end from T.C. Williams (Va.) High School is considered a three-star by the 247Sports composite. He is ranked as the 15th-best strong-side defensive end in the country and the 13th-best player in the state.
Josh Allen is another good get for the Tar Heels. The offensive guard from University Christian (Fla.) High School is considered a three-star by the 247Sports composite He is ranked as the 22nd-best offensive guard in the country and the 63rd-best player in the state.
Major targets?
The Tar Heels have already done most of their damage with the 2014 class, and there don’t seem to be any four or five-star prospects for whom they have a great shot to land. The greatest work will be done down the stretch in holding on to the excellent crop already secured.
