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UNC Football: Tar Heels commit named Defensive Player of the Year

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches him team play against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clemson won 21-20. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches him team play against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clemson won 21-20. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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A class of 2021 UNC football commit has been named the Defensive Player of the Year in the state of North Carolina.

Power Echols, a class of 2021 prospect that’s committed to the University of North Carolina, has been named the 2019-2020 Defensive Player of the Year by HighSchoolOT.com. The site held an awards presentation online on Wednesday night announcing the winners of 41 awards across multiple sports for the top players, teams and stories of the past season.

Echols, a 6-foot-1, 206-pound inside linebacker from Zebulon B. Vance High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, committed to North Carolina on January 25, 2020, joining a recruiting class that features ten 4-star players and 14 of the state’s top 40 prospects. A 4-star recruit himself, Echols is ranked 196th in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s ninth among players at his position, and No. 13 in the state of North Carolina. The Top247 has him ranked even higher at No. 151 overall, fifth at the inside linebacker position and 12th in his home state.

Prior to committing to the Tar Heels, Echols had offers from the likes of Clemson, Maryland, NC State, Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia, among others. And he would have pulled in many more offers had he not cut his recruitment short mid-way through his junior year.

Despite being shorter than a number of the top linebacker prospects, Echols is a very productive player that helped lead his high school team to a state championship last season. He’s a physical player that puts big hits on the opposition both in his tackling and blocking. He’s a quick, disruptive blitzer that forces a lot of fumbles. His coverage skills aren’t as refined, however, and neither is his body. He could use more mass, particularly on his lean upper body, before arriving on campus next year. Regardless, he should be a very good player at the next level with the opportunity of developing into an NFL draft pick.

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