UNC football rounded out its 2022 recruiting class with another top prospect on Wednesday, as four-star wide receiver Andre Greene Jr. verbally committed to the Tar Heels over Clemson and Georgia.
Greene, a 6-foot-3 senior at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, Va., ranks as the No. 9 wide receiver and No. 71 overall recruit in the country. He is the 11th four-star or five-star recruit to choose UNC this cycle, giving the Tar Heels the No. 9 overall recruiting class in the nation, per the 247Sports composite.
Since Greene was the top uncommitted target on UNC football’s 2022 board ahead of next month’s early signing period, here’s a look at six 2023 recruits who could join him around this same time next year. (UNC currently has one 2023 verbal commit so far in four-star Hough quarterback Tad Hudson).
Five-star CB A.J. Harris, Glenwood School (Ala.)
UNC wasn’t on Harris’ initial top 13 list in July, but a late push and August scholarship offer changed that. Harris included the Tar Heels among his top seven schools in September, with heavy hitters such as Alabama, Clemson and Georgia, and visited Chapel Hill for UNC’s 58-55 upset win against Wake Forest.
The visit was “eye-opening,” Harris said, and improved UNC’s position in a tough battle to land the commitment of the 6-foot-1 defender who’s also a standout kick returner. The No. 3 cornerback and No. 15 overall recruit in the class of 2023, he’s currently scheduled to announce his school on Jan. 11, 2022.
Four-star S Caleb Downs, Mill Creek (Ga.)
Family ties made Downs an obvious recruiting target: his older brother, Josh, is on pace to shatter most of UNC’s single-season receiving records as a sophom*ore this year, and his uncle, Dré Bly, is the team’s cornerbacks coach. But that’s far from the only reason UNC offered the younger Downs in early 2020.
The 6-0 Downs ranks as the No. 3 safety and No. 40 overall recruit in his class, with the stats (13 career interceptions, 66 tackles this season) and projections (an NFL Draft first-round grade, per 247Sports) to match. He boasts offers from the best in college football and hasn’t yet trimmed his list of schools.
Four-star DL Tomarrion Parker, Central (Ala.)
Parker, an uber-athletic 6-4 defensive lineman and the No. 84 recruit in his class, took an “amazing” unofficial visit to UNC in June and included the Tar Heels among his top seven schools in July. UNC’s staff built further relationships during Parker’s Chapel Hill return trip last month for a close win over Miami.
Parker’s recorded 67 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and a 68-yard fumble recovery touchdown in 12 games this fall. He plays high school football in the same city as Harris, UNC’s other top 2023 target in the state. In September, local powerhouse Alabama also jumped in the mix with an offer for Parker.
Four-star DL K.J. Sampson, New Bern
Considering Sampson’s hometown pride, it’s no surprise he included four in-state schools on his initial top 10 list last month. UNC made that cut along with Duke, East Carolina, N.C. State and the usual suspects (Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State), signaling continued progress with the 6-3, 285-pound junior.
Sampson set new highs in every statistical category this fall for New Bern, earning conference defensive player of the year honors as he recorded 62 tackles, 25 quarterback hurries, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks in eight games. He ranks as the No. 27 defensive lineman and No. 193 recruit in his class.
Four-star OT Jamaal Jarrett, Grimsley
A crosstown transfer from Greensboro’s Ben L. Smith to Grimsley netted Jarrett a lot more wins and a lot more facetime with Travis Shaw, the five-star defensive lineman and No. 4 overall recruit who verbally committed to UNC in August. The Tar Heels are making a strong impression on Jarrett, too.
The 6-5, 330-pound Jarrett, who could play offensive line or defensive line in college depending on where he ends up, has visited Chapel Hill for numerous camps and home games since the summer. He included UNC among his top eight schools in October; nearby N.C. State also made that initial cut.
Three-star IOL Joshua Miller, Life Christian Academy (Va.)
Miller was a standout performer at UNC’s Showtime Camp in July, and the Tar Heels made his top five schools cut earlier this month along with Clemson, Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. Miller is also teammates with UNC 2022 verbal commit Trevyon Green, a 6-7 three-star offensive tackle recruit.
UNC is “really genuine,” Miller told Rivals, but the Tar Heels face steep competition to land the versatile 6-5, 320-pound lineman who’s been performing well above his three-star ranking. Miller has described Clemson as his dream school, and he currently holds three Crystal Ball predictions to choose Penn State.
Chapel Fowler is a recruiting reporter for The Fayetteville Observer and the USA TODAY Network. Reach him by email atcfowler@gannett.comor on Twitter at@chapelfowler.
