UNC Football: Tar Heels land four-star defensive back

Mack Brown and the UNC Football program turned in a Top 20 recruiting class for the 2021 cycle just a few weeks back during the Early Signing Period. At the time, many thought the Tar Heels were done with their class and were focusing on 2022.

While the continue to focus on that 2022 class, they weren’t done adding to 2021.

UNC landed a big commitment from a four-star defensive back on Wednesday as Dontae Balfour announced his verbal to the Tar Heels. Balfour picked UNC over finalists LSU and Auburn during a ceremony on National Signing Day.

The commitment adds another piece to UNC’s 2021 recruiting class which now has a total of 13 commitments plus an additional transfer in running back Ty Chandler. It’s the second-straight year UNC will finish in the Top 15 with a football recruiting class and in the Top 3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

This is a big win for Brown and his staff, beating out two SEC programs to land the talented defensive back which recently earned his fourth star. Balfour was considered a UNC target for a few months now but it was just recently that he started showing significant interest in the program.

Having defensive backs coach Dre Bly lead the recruitment once again paid off for UNC as it was one of the deciding factors in Balfour’s decision.

UNC will now enter next season with more depth at the cornerback position as they return starters Tony Grimes  and Storm Duck while bringing back Kyler McMichael and Trey Morrison as well. Grimes was originally a commit to this 2021 class but decided to enroll early and he earned valuable playing time down the stretch, proving why he’s a five-star recruit.

This now wraps up UNC’s 2021 class as they turn their attention to 2022 where they already have a few commitments already.

For more on the UNC Football program and recruiting, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.