UNC Football: Tar Heels land five-star offensive tackle

Mack Brown and the UNC Football program have done it again. On Thursday, the Tar Heels received some big news in terms of their 2022 recruiting class.

Five-star offensive tackle Zach Rice ended his recruitment and picked the Tar Heels over Virginia with a special ceremony at his high school. Rice was down to a final list of UNC, Virginia, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Alabama going into the decision but many believed it was truly a two-team race between the Tar Heels and Cavaliers all around.

In the end, the Tar Heels beat out the fellow Atlantic Coast Conference foe to land this prized recruit for their 2022 class.

The 6-foot-6, 282-pound Rice also revealed that he will enroll early in January, getting a head start with his new program.

This is a HUGE pickup for Brown and his staff, landing a big program-changer on the offensive line.

Rice is one of the top players not only at his position but in the entire country. He’s ranked No. 9 overall, the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 1 player in the state of Virginia per the 247Sports recruiting rankings.

The addition of Rice gives North Carolina 15 total commitments in their class including two five-star recruits in Rice and defensive tackle Travis Shaw. UNC’s class shoots up from from No. 12 overall into the Top 10 and they still have the No. 2 class in the ACC.

UNC may not be done just yet as they have a few big targets still remaining on their board including four-star receiver Andre Greene Jr.

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