UNC Football: Did visit change recruitment for five-star?

Mack Brown has completely turned the UNC Football program around in just his two short seasons with the team. North Carolina is coming off a 2020 season in which they reached the Orange Bowl, ushering in a new era for the program.

The head coach and his staff have been able to turn things around quickly after the program won just three games from 2017-18. Now, the expectations are high going into 2021 and a big part of that has been due to recruiting and the staff landing some top talent not only in the state of North Carolina but in surrounding areas as well.

With the month of June welcoming back recruiting visits, Brown and his staff have hosted several recruits for official and unofficial visits already. Among them was five-star defensive back Jeadyn Lukus. The Mauldin, South Carolina native is a top recruit in the 2022 class and has 25 offers so far in his recruitment with programs like Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama and Georgia along with North Carolina battling for his services.

Lukus has taken one visit already as he was on UNC’s campus on June 4th and according to one recruiting expert, the Tar Heels left a big impression on the recruit. Here is what 247Sports recruiting analyst Brandon Huffman wrote on him in his latest:

"All signs are pointing to Clemson for Mauldin (S.C.) cornerback Jeadyn Lukus — the Crystal Balls are unanimously on. the Tigers. But after an official visit to North Carolina over the weekend, Steve Wiltfong put the first measure of caution, lowering his Crystal Ball confidence on Clemson to a 1 from the previous 7.Clemson will still get a shot with Lukus on campus this month, but the Tar Heels certainly gave him something to think about, blowing Lukus away on the visit."

The visit was enough for 247’s Steve Wiltfong to change his crystal ball confidence from a 7 to a 1 for Clemson. The Tigers still hold the lead in that crystal ball predictor, holding all of the predictions but the fact that a national expert might be changing his mind is good news for the Tar Heels.

Lukus still has a visit to Clemson this month, so the Tigers can certainly win back that confidence but it sounds like North Carolina has made a lasting impression.

For more on Lukus and other UNC Football recruiting targets, please check back with Keeping It Heel.