Dorman offensive lineman, UNC commit DJ Geth is No. 4 on the Upstate Dandy Dozen list

Dorman offensive lineman D.J. Geth is No. 4 on the 864Huddle Dandy Dozen, a ranking of the Upstate's top Class of 2023 football recruits. 

North Carolina has always held a special place in the Geth family.

Inadvertently, maybe, Ed Geth was an active participant in one of the most infamous college basketball games in history: Michigan vs. UNC in the 1993 NCAA Tournament Championship – that night, Chris Webber called a timeout when there was none left. UNC won the national title and Ed Geth and the Tar Heels were etched into the history books.

Now, his son DJ, gets to go to North Carolina and make his own name as a member of the Tar Heel football team. 

DJ Geth, a three-star recruit, is No. 4 on this year's 864Huddle Dandy Dozen. The 6-foot-4, 300 pound interior offensive lineman is the No. 987 player nationally, the No. 71 Interior Offensive Lineman and the No. 15 overall player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite Ranking.

And he is committed to play at North Carolina under Mack Brown, a decision he made in July.

"They made me the most feel at home," Geth told the Herald-Journal earlier this summer. "I just really connected with their coaching staff ...  And following my dad, it was just ... I didn't really follow him, just because of him. I made that choice on my own."

Ed Geth remembers the official visit: He took DJ to Sutton's, a staple of the UNC food scene in Chapel Hill. On the wall, a photo of his Ed rested – the owner recognized Ed and offered to take a photo of him and his son in the place where the elder Geth made so many memories. 

More: Dorman lineman Markee Anderson cooks, he blocks and holds a rare 2023 offer from Clemson

On Geth: Like father, like son: Dorman lineman DJ Geth has official visit to father's alma mater UNC

DJ Geth could very well have his photo plastered to those walls as a football player too. 

"I can't describe how awesome it is to have my son choose UNC of all schools," Ed Geth said. "But just to watch him grow and become the player and young man that he is – any dad who is a sports fan, athlete or coach ... you want your son to be good at sports. You learn, 'I'll accept him do whatever he does.' But as he begins becoming special, you're kind of in awe – you can't believe its happening all over again.

"(I'm) proud, excited, awesome, are the words that come to mind when I think about where he'll be playing again next year."

Geth brings so much to the table as an athlete and person – his high school coach Dustin Curtis makes sure to mention.

"He's just very athletic man. Really athletic kid. Tremendous quickness, runs really well in the open field ... that to me is what (defines him)," Curtis said. "He's just a great kid, man. He's an outstanding young man and a good leader ... anytime you have someone (like that) who's also (a great) player ... it makes it easy to coach."

Geth will make his name this season as a leader for what could be an improved Dorman team. Geth and fellow OL Markee Anderson, a South Carolina commit and four-star recruit, could make up the most formidable duo the state has along the offensive line.

Joe Dandron covers high school sports for The Greenville News and 864Huddle.