Keeping It Heel
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North Carolina Football Recruiting: Ranking 4 Best Recruits for UNC

By John Bauman

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Oct 4, 2014; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The North Carolina Tar Heels wore camouflage helmets in honor of military appreciation day against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The Virginia Tech Hokies won 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

#1 Jalen Dalton

By far, the biggest prize of the recruiting class for the Heels is Jalen Dalton. Dalton is a defensive end out of Clemmons, North Carolina. He played for West Forsyth HS and is a 6’6”, 230 pound prospect. Scout ranked him as the fifth best player in the South and the 10th best player at his position.

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Dalton is a big pickup for the Tar Heels for a couple of reasons. One, he is a key recruit at a position of need for the Tar Heels — pass rusher. Carolina struggled to put pressure on the opposing teams quarterback last season, which was a big reason Carolina struggled the way that they did. Norkeithus Otis was the best pass rusher, but even he struggled to generate consistent pressure. UNC had to rely on stunts and twists to generate that pressure, but struggled to just beat offensive lineman straight up for sacks. Dalton brings that element to the Heels immediately.

Dalton is also a big in-state recruiting pickup for the Heels. Dalton is one of the most talented players in the state of North Carolina, and the Heels did well to keep him in-state and avoid watching him go off to an SEC school.

Finally, Dalton is the biggest recruit because he was also one of the 10 early enrollees to enter the program. Dalton will get lots of reps at defensive end and in my opinion, has a chance to start right away as a freshman.

Dalton is easily the best recruit of the 2015 class for the Heels.

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