Five-star running back chooses Georgia over North Carolina, and very few are shocked
Always a bridesmaid and never a bride.
At least, that’s what it feels like for some North Carolina football fans when it comes to five-star prospects and the program’s ability to reel in top talent.
Again on Tuesday afternoon, the Tar Heels came up short with a big-time recruit when five-star running back Zamir White committed to the Georgia Bulldogs.
Despite how well the Tar Heels have been doing on the recruiting trail, their luck with five-star recruits is still, well, bad at best.
Bad, to the point that many North Carolina fans are less than surprised by the latest missed prospect that chose Georgia, or any other SEC powerhouse, over the Tar Heels.
No. 1 ranked in North Carolina Zamir White to #UGA means #ESPN300 No. 1 ranked prospect from Tar Heel State has gone OOS 11 straight years.
— Gerry Hamilton (@GHamilton_On3) June 27, 2017
Zamir White also joins Gurley and Marshall as top RB prospects from North Carolina to pick #UGA
— JC Shurburtt (@jcshurburtt) June 27, 2017
Zamir White chooses Georgia and #unc misses out on another in state talent.
— Tyler Gibbs (@theGibbster3000) June 27, 2017
Did any of yall really believe Zamir White would go somewhere other than Georgia?
— SportsFromMyEyes (@JustinThomasNBA) June 27, 2017
Another one gone to Georgia. Keep on stealing all our best running back's year after year
— Noel Hayes (@UNC245782930509) June 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/bpcoxjr/status/879733868860985345
https://twitter.com/AnthonyRogers04/status/879736853594861570
The overwhelming majority of North Carolina fans reacted fairly similarly, but there were those who took a more positive approach. Or, at least, not quite as negatively as the general consensus.
Hey may have "committed" but we've seen kids sign elsewhere. Until he signs on the dotted line, UNC still has a shot to get him in the end.
— "Doublewide Paradise" (@EricNHouse) June 27, 2017
Five-star 2018 RB Zamir White commits to Georgia, breaking the hearts of UNC football fans. Elite "get" for Kirby Smart and crew.
— Dave Miller (@Miller_Dave) June 27, 2017
Sure, the Tar Heels missed out on another elite in-state recruit, to Georgia, again. All is not lost, though.
Just two years removed from an 11-win season, and a one-point loss to South Carolina away from a spot in the College Football Playoff, the Tar Heels appear to be building a sustainable product in Chapel Hill.
With head coach Larry Fedora seemingly in for the long haul, and a strong coaching staff beside him, the Tar Heels look to have the stability necessary to maintain a contender in the ACC Coastal Division.
Following up on a strong finish to the 2017 recruiting cycle, the Tar Heels boast a top-30 recruiting class for 2018, including four, four-star prospects. And the recent commitment from four-star quarterback Tyler Shough has UNC fans optimistic that the team has found its quarterback of the future.
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Keep your head up Tar Heel Nation. We’ll be over here, Keeping It Heel.