Football recruiting season is in full swing.  Before this year I haven't been nearly as interested, but I'm hopeful JB can continue the program on the upswing.  The recently-released 2005 football schedule poses some serious challenges.  I'll get to the scheduling later, but now, a quandary.

Montario Hardesty, the running back from New Bern, is ranked #2 in the state, behind State commit Toney Baker.  Hardesty verbally committed to the Tar Heels last week over Tennessee.  However, since then, Phillip Fulmer's staff has been all over Montario.  Several visited for up to ten hours this past weekend. 

I understand that it's open-season on kids, even after they verbal, until the letter-of-intent is signed and faxed to the school of his choice.  Tennessee has a 4 or 5 star running back coming already, yet they're telling Hardesty he'll be 'the man' for four years.  John Bunting needs to be all over this, and firm up Montario.  He can be a solid contributor from the get-go, and a stud for several years.

 

By the way, dig the Tom Petty pun in the title. 

We've got commitments, de-commitments, rescindments, commitments taking visits, commitments committing to other schools...it's crazy.

Cade Thompson, heralded QB from Tennessee, has de-committed from one Carolina and is headed to the other, USC.  That leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  Cade Thompson has the quintessential quarterback name, and he could be the next great SEC signal-caller.  We'll have to wait and see.

Richie Rich and Montario Hardesty have committed at RB for North Carolina.  Unfortunately, however, this squeezes out Bryan Payton, who played at Fork Union this year.  I don't know the circumstances there, but I'm not excited any time a kid doesn't have a chance to be a Heel.

Jordan Hemby, the defensive back commit from the western part of the state, is now going to visit Florida and make sure that isn't the place for him.  Who's recruiting him there, you ask?  Doc Holliday.

Jose Cruz, a TE commit, has de-committed and is looking at...Akron?  Unless this means Jonathan Hannah is in, I don't like this either?

I'm sure all this will shake out in the next few weeks as we inch closer to signing day, but right now, it's a mess.  I think we'll lock down a good class, but recruiting is obviously an inexact science.

Jordan Hemby, from Morganton Freedom High School, has announced he will attend UNC.  Scroll about halfway down on that link.  #1 cornerback in the state, #55 in the nation according to some.  The Heels grabbed him over State, Clemson, and Virginia Tech, so that's good.  I look forward to him suiting up for the Heels.