UNC Football: Top 5-star target sets commitment date

The UNC Football program saw their struggles this season continue, falling to Florida State on Saturday to move their record to 3-3. But the future of the program is now front and center and that starts with recruiting.

While their have been problems on the field for UNC, head coach Mack Brown and his staff have done a good job in recruiting. They currently have a top 15 class for the 2022 cycle headlined by Top 5 player Travis Shaw.

But UNC could soon be landing another big commitment in that class.

Five-star offensive tackle Zach Rice is among the top targets left for Brown’s Tar Heels and it appears as if he’s ready to make a decision. On Saturday, Shaw officially set a decision date to end his recruitment and his decision will be coming soon.

Per his Twitter account, Shaw will be deciding on October 21st at 7:30 p.m. est at his high school with a special ceremony:

Now, Shaw is technically down to five schools with Alabama, Notre Dame, Virginia, UNC and Ohio State in the mix. However, many believe that this is a two-team race in the ACC between North Carolina and Virginia.

Rice visited all five programs over the Summer but UNC and Virginia got visits this Fall. The recruit has been on UNC’s campus multiple times over the past year, a good sign for the Tar Heels.

The 6-foot-6, 282-pound offensive tackle is a Lynchburg, Virginia native that is ranked No. 7 overall, No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 1 player in the state per the 247Sports composite rankings. 

Rice would be a huge addition for a UNC program that is in need of some offensive line help for the future. He would also move UNC’s class inside the Top 10.

For more on Rice and his decision, please check back with Keeping It Heel.