UNC Football: Tar Heels land commitment from 4-star OLB

Mack Brown and the UNC Football program is on the board again in the 2022 recruiting class, landing another commitment on Friday afternoon.

Four-star defensive end Malaki Hamrick officially pledged his verbal commitment to the Tar Heels, giving UNC four verbals in the 2022 class. Hamrick is the first in-state prospect to commit to UNC in the 2022 cycle.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound edge rusher is a native of Shelby, North Carolina and will enter his senior year at Shelby high as a Tar Heel. He’s ranked as the No. 150 overall recruit, No. 12 outside linebacker and No. 5 player in the state of North Carolina per the 247 Sports recruiting rankings.

He made the announcement with a ceremony at his high school where he revealed a North Carolina shirt to finalize the decision.

Hamrick had a total of 17 offers in his recruitment but picked the Tar Heels over finalists Appalachian State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State.

The addition of Hamrick is big for Brown and his staff, landing that first in-state recruit of the 2022 class. Since Brown returned for his second stint in Chapel Hill, he’s made it a priority to land the top in-state talent to build his recruiting classes as was evident in the 2021 cycle.

With the commitment, UNC’s four-man class now jumps to No. 16 overall and No. 3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 2020 and 2021, they turned in top 20 classes as Brown continues to build on the foundation of the program. The Tar Heels still have over 30 offers out in the 2022 class and are far from finishing this thing up as they look like they are headed for another top 20 and potentially top 15 class.

For more on Hamrick and other UNC Football players and recruiting targets, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.