UNC Football: Tar Heels named finalist for 4-star lineman

The UNC football program has been named a finalist for 4-star offensive tackle Eli Sutton.

Mack Brown and the North Carolina Tar Heels reeled in the 19th-ranked recruiting class in the nation for the 2020 cycle, and they’re already off to a good start on the class of 2021.

They’ve gotten early commitments from three high school juniors, two of which rank inside the top 250 in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. Power Echols and Dontavius Nash are both 4-star prospects, and have the Tar Heels’ 2021 class currently ranked 21st in the nation. The Tar Heels have some work to do if they’re going to match the nine 4-star players they signed in this year’s class, though.

They got some good news this week from a 4-star lineman that could help them get a little closer to that number. Eli Sutton, a 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive tackle from Brentwood, Tennessee, named North Carolina among his seven finalists. Along with the Tar Heels, Sutton has Duke, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Miami, Northwestern and Penn State.

He’s already taken unofficial visits to a number of the programs on his list, including the Tar Heels on January 19. He attended the Nittany Lions’ junior day on February 1, just a few days before releasing his list of seven teams. As of now, there’s no telling where Sutton will commit, but the Tar Heels appear to be in a pretty good position with the talented young lineman.

Sutton is ranked No. 153 in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite for 2021. He’s 20th among players at his position, and second in the state of Tennessee.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Tar Heels’ pursuit of Eli Sutton, and everything UNC football.