Football Recruiting: Da’Shawn Hand Drops UNC

The #1 recruit in the 2014 class defensive end  Da’Shawn Hand has dropped North Carolina from his new top five.  Hand lists Alabama,Florida,Michigan,South Carolina,VaTech as his new top five.  UNC had a successful National Signing Day today for the 2013 class and had looked forward to going after Hand in the 2014 class before being dropped today.

July 23, 2012; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels football head coach Larry Fedora talks to reporters during the ACC media day at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro NC. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

New top five Alabama,Florida,Michigan,South Carolina,VaTech

— Da’shawn Hand (@TheHand54) February 4, 2013

UNC lost defensive line coach Deke Adams to South Carolina recently, Adams was a big reason why the Tar Heels were on Hands list in the first place. Hand also tweeted that he is taking some time off from the recruiting process.

I’m taking a break from the recruiting process for a while. I will not be contacting any coaches until march. I need time to focus on school

— Da’shawn Hand (@TheHand54) February 6, 2013

Hand is able to overpower and get by blockers with both sound technique and uncanny quickness for a player of his size. A great tackler with a nose for the football. Hand would have been a huge get for the Tar Heels trying to reestablish themselves as national contenders. This news is surprising considering that Hand just came out with a different top five in January that included UNC.