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FOOTBALL
RECRUITING 2007-08

Coach: Butch Davis

2008 North Carolina Signees:

Recent Recruiting Rankings (By Rivals.com): No. 42, No. 13, No. 36, No. 44, No. 30 under John Bunting from 2002-06; No. 17 under Davis in 2007.

Consensus 2008 Prep All-Americans: VA DE Quinton Coples, AZ RB Jamal Womble.

Interesting Story: In his final high school game, wide receiver Todd Harrelson recorded 15 receptions for 354 receiving yards, setting Virginia state playoff records in both categories. The yardage total was the second-highest ever for a high school game in the Commonwealth. Despite his incredible effort, which included three touchdown receptions, Harrelson’s Smith squad was defeated by Chantilly Westfield, featuring N.C. State quarterback commitment Mike Glennon, 24-21, in the state semifinal. It was Smith’s only loss of 2007.

Top 2008 Recruiters: linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen. He was the lead recruiter for UNC linebacker commitments Kevin Reddick, Zach Brown and Ebele Okakpu, all three-star prospects who are ranked among the top 35 players at their position in the country by Rivals.com. Thigpen also aided in the recruitment of Kenneth Harris, an under-the-radar Georgia athlete who committed to the Tar Heels the week before national signing day.

States Represented (10): Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Kansas (junior college), North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.

Academic Worries: some, including Reddick, A.J. Blue and 2007 holdover Dwight Jones.

Key Misses: NC DB Spencer Adams (Clemson), NC TE Dwayne Allen (Georgia), KS LB Arthur Brown (Miami), FL DT Marcus Forston (Miami), NC LB Terrell Manning (N.C. State), NC OL R.J. Mattes (N.C. State), SC OL Kenneth Page (Clemson), FL LB Etienne Sabino (Ohio State), FL LB Sean Spence (Miami), CA DB Vaughn Telemaque (Miami).

Quotable Quotes: "What we wanted to try to do was to balance out and compliment the ’07 (class). This year’s signees are decidedly more defensively slanted than the offensive side of the ball. Another thing after going through the ’07 season was the number of times that we really felt like we needed increase in numbers of available players that could play a significant role in special teams. Subsequently, an emphasis on linebackers, on safeties, corners and defensive ends. Guys that can run and really help you make an impact on special teams."
— UNC head coach Butch Davis

UNC Football Recruiting Articles (Links):

Jonathan Cooper commitment story — Wilmington Star News

Jonathan Cooper article — Wilmington Star News

Braden Hanson midseason story — Charlotte Observer

Braden Hanson game story — NCVarsity.com

Todd Harrelson story — Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot

Michael McAdoo commitment story — Nashville Tennessean

Michael McAdoo feature — Nashville Tennessean

Ebele Okakpu feature — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Kevin Reddick article — New Bern Sun-Journal

Kevin Reddick UNC commitment feature — New Bern Sun-Journal

Kevin Reddick feature — New Bern Sun-Journal

Randy White feature — Roanoke Times

Jamal Womble commitment story — Fayetteville Observer

Jamal Womble feature — Sierra Vista (AZ) Herald

Robert Quinn brain surgery feature — Charlotte Observer