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Early Signing Day 2017: UNC recruits sign on Wednesday

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Larry Fedora of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches his team play during their game against the Miami Hurricanes at Kenan Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Miami won 24-19. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Larry Fedora of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches his team play during their game against the Miami Hurricanes at Kenan Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Miami won 24-19. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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UNC signed the majority of its recruiting class on the first day of the new early signing period

The Early Signing Day period is officially here and the North Carolina Tar Heels had a big day on Wednesday.

UNC has 15 players verbally committed to their 2018 class and by 8 am ET on Wednesday, 14 of those 15 players officially signed with the program.

The signings came in early for the Tar Heels as they watched players like Jordyn Adams, Dynami Brown, Avery Jones, Devon Lawrence and Jace Ruder sign their letters.

Ruder was the final player to sign on Wednesday due to him being in central time in Kansas.

The lone recruit that did not sign was defensive back DeAndre Hollins who plans on signing in February during the traditional signing period. Defensive end Nick Fulwider is announcing his decision on Friday and is heavily leaning towards flipping to Arkansas according to various reports.

This UNC class is highlighted by the commitment of the four-star wide receiver Adams. After Payton Wilson decommitted from the program, Adams became UNC’s most important recruit.

https://twitter.com/TarHeelFootball/status/943476432805691392

Overall, this class is currently ranked No. 35 by 247 Sports and their team rankings. They’ve been as high as 31 and as low as 38 as the rankings have been updated to the minute with commitments to other teams.

It’s the No. 6 ranked class in the ACC, currently behind Miami, Clemson, Virginia Tech, NC State and Louisville.

This is also one of the most important recruiting classes for head coach Larry Fedora and his staff.

Coming off a disappointing year in which they failed to make a bowl game, Fedora has to turn this program around quickly. That starts with a good 2018 recruiting class that has players that can come in and make an impact right away.

The Tar Heels should be better in 2018 and hopefully reach a bowl game. But the one key will be their quarterback situation.

Fedora didn’t name a starter ahead of the Week 1 game against Cal, splitting the reps between Brandon Harris and Chazz Surratt.

Now going into 2018, Fedora discussed the situation with reporters saying Nathan Elliott and Surratt will be competing as well as both 2018 QB’s Jace Ruder and Cade Fortin.

Elliott and Surratt will be the two that have the edge early on with both freshman competing for backup spots. We could see Ruder and Fortin get a redshirt, granting them an extra year in the system.

There’s still some holes to fill in this class and UNC can do that in the Feb. period.

They are still in the running for lineman William Barnes, defensive tackle Rick Sandidge and linebacker Dax Hollifield, two very important recruits.

Fedora will have his work cut out for him but landing one of those players will really help improve UNC’s class.

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