UNC Football: Is Hunter/Newsome a recruiting package for Tar Heels?

UNC is in the running for two defensive backs in the 2017 class but where do they stand?

Now that the North Carolina Tar Heels 2016 football season is over, the focus switches to the offseason for head coach Larry Fedora and his staff.

The coaches will evaluate the 2016 season and focus on recruiting as National Signing Day approaches next month.

For the Tar Heels, they currently have a top 25 recruiting class this year with 16 players committed to play for Fedora and the Tar Heels. It’s UNC’s best recruiting class in years as they used an impressive 11-win season in 2015 to help it out.

With 16 commitments, UNC is in good shape but they are still in the race for more recruits.

Two of those are defensive backs, a position that will take a hit after the 2017 season. Defensive backs M.J. Stewart and Donnie Miles both announced they will return next season but the depth will take a hit when they leave.

The biggest target on UNC’s board is five-star Devon Hunter. The safety/wide receiver out of Virginia would be a big get for UNC in their 2017 class but the latest news isn’t so good.

Hunter told reporters during practice for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, that he has three more visits lined up. He’s already visited both UNC and VT but will also visit other schools.

The safety is set to visit the University of Florida on Jan 13. then either Auburn or Ole Miss on Jan. 20, ending it with a visit to Alabama on Jan. 27.

He had some nice things to say about his previous UNC visit via Scout.com:

"Hunter said that his visit to North Carolina was similar to Virginia Tech in a lot of ways, especially the relationship he’s developed with the coaching staff.“Got a great relationship with all the coaches there, too. I see it as the same as Virginia Tech, but it’s just in a different state,” said Hunter, who was hosted by Andre Smith. “I don’t know a lot of people there, but that doesn’t really matter for me. I just wanna go in there and compete.”"

Hunter plans on making his decision after his January visits but it will be before National Signing Day.

While Hunter’s decision looms large for UNC, they are working hard to flip a current Maryland commit.

Defensive back Dazz Newsome is officially scheduled to visit UNC, after pledging to Maryland in 2016.

Newsome told Scout.com that he will visit UNC on January 13th as he wants to see the campus and the overall feel of the school. UNC has been in pursuit of Newsome for a while, telling him to come to a camp and perform well, then get his SAT up.

He did and was offered by UNC on December 16.

Newsome and Hunter might be a package as the two are very close. Newsome is also visiting Virginia Tech and has connections to the school.

Here’s what Newsome told Scout:

"“Oh yea, we’re always talking about going to the same school,” Newsome said. “It’s not a definite thing, but we’re always talking about it. I’m going to take my official on the 20th and then I’m going to go from there.”"

Landing one will certainly help UNC’s class but a combination of both is even better.

Check back for more on UNC football recruiting and the decisions from Hunter and Newsome.