EXTRA POINTS FOUNDED AND PUBLISHED FROM 1990-93 BY THE GENERAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA. Vol. XI, No. 14, February 12th, 2001, Chapel Hill, NC Carolina Recruiting Becomes A Family Affair.
CHAPEL HILL
orey Holliday was first sold on Carolina almost 13 years ago, when head coach CMack Brown and assistant Jim Cavanaugh asked the Richmond, Va., receiver to be a part of their rebuilding effort in Chapel Back in the fold: Hill. Over the next five years, Tar Heel fans (L) Corey Holiday became enamoured with Holliday’s soft hands and Rick and reliability over the middle (he caught a Steinbacher, with pass in 45 straight games from 1990-93); his Mack Brown on good manners and appearance (a clothes-horse, back cover of 1993 Holliday entered his senior year with a closet media guide, and full of polo shirts and more than two dozen (below, L-R) John baseball caps); and his attention to detail and organized mind (“Usually we ask the ques- Bunting, Jim tions,” Brown said after Holliday’s campus Webster and Rod recruiting visit. “With Corey, it was, ‘Coach, can Broadway. you sit down a minute? I’ve got a few ques- tions.’”) Now Holliday’s been sold again, this time to return to Carolina in an administrative post under new head coach John Bunting. “Both times it didn’t take much for anyone to sell me on coming to Chapel Hill,” Holliday says. “I know what the University of North Carolina stands for to a student-athlete.” The pitch from Bunting (Carolina ’72) to Holliday (Carolina ’94), was simple, much the same it was from Brown—come help us build a winner. “I got fired up meeting Coach Bunting and seeing what kind of person he is,” says Holliday, who played four years of pro ball with the Steelers and most recently was with NFL and now-defunct USFL. National Carolina’s 2001 signing class is about what Andersen Consulting in Columbus, Ohio. “I champion Oklahoma? On the road? Before you’d expect in a transitional year. Bunting and have no doubt when he gets on the field and road games at Maryland and Texas? “Some his million-dollar staff (the new tally for nine begins coaching our players, they’ll have the people are looking at me like I’ve got two assistant coaches is $1,007,000) did an excellent same intensity he had as a player and the same heads,” Bunting admits. job retaining 10 of the 12 commitments from passion he has for the University.” But a thread is developing in the early days Carl Torbush’s regime (only prep schooler Intensity and passion are two words of the Bunting regime. Combined with a boot- Jason Crawford, a 2000 signee, went elsewhere, circulating a lot around the world of Tar Heel camp mentality in the off-season conditioning following his parents’ wishes, and another football these days as Bunting last week program of new strength coach Jeff Connors, signed with East Carolina rather than go to announced the signing of 21 high school the qualities of Bunting’s signing class and his prep school). It did a good job of plowing new seniors to scholarships as well as an ambitious plucky challenge of the Sooners lead to one ground with prospects not on the recruiting assignment at Oklahoma on Aug. 25. conclusion: board last fall (Harry Lewis of Kentucky and Question the ranking of the Tar Heels’ Only the strong will survive. Only those Danny Rumley of Alabama appear to be signing class if you want. Indeed, it’s not who love to play college football need apply. outstanding players). remarkable, coming in middle-of-the-road in “I jumped at the chance to play Oklahoma,” Yet without on-the-field results to document the ACC and from 37th to 43rd in several Bunting says. “I didn’t come here to be second their case, Bunting and staff just missed on a rankings such as SuperPrep and Rivals. best. It’ll help us get better faster. I want our number of high-profile candidates who opted And wonder if you’d like whether Bunting’s players to recognize what it takes to be the for proven commodities—quarterback Adrian gray matter was bounced around too much best.” McPherson of Brandenton, Fla., chief among during 13 years chasing quarterbacks in the *** them in choosing Florida State. PAGE ONE 2001 TAR HEEL SIGNEES Name, Position, High School, Town, Ht-Wt., 40-yard dash time; other schools considered. Matt Baker QB Brother Rice HS, Birmingham, Mich. 6-2, 205 4.7 WVa., W.Mich. Relatively unheralded player yet one Tar Heel coaches like a lot; three-year starter, led team to state title last year; accurate passer.
Antavis Barrino DT Forest Hills HS, Marshville 6-5, 280 5.0 Clem., NSCU, Tenn., SC Considered best DT in state this year; great speed and intensity; could factor as freshman; member National Honor Society.
Steven Bell OL Page HS, Greensboro 6-3, 250 4.8 ECU, Clem. Expected to play center for Heels; Shrine Bowl participant; two-year, two-way starter; all-conference, all-county, all-area as senior.
Jason Brown OL N. Vance HS, Henderson 6-3, 295 5.1 Duke, NCSU, WF Offensive captain of N.C. Shrine team; two-way starter, two-time league lineman of year; National Honor Society, top 10 class rank.
Ronnie Bryant S Riverside HS, Durham 6-1, 195 4.4 ECU First new committment by Bunting & staff; assistant Jim Webster liked his toughness and athleticism; all-league RB as senior.
Brian Chacos TE Darien HS, Darien, Ct. 6-5, 255 4.8 BC, VT, Clem., Sry., Wisc. SuperPrep AA, ranked No. 6 at TE in nation; father Andy a Tar Heel in early 1970s; “true athlete,” Bunting says; four-year starter.
Chris Curry CB E.E. Smith HS, Fayetteville 5-11, 185 4.5 Duke, WF Mid-South 4A Conf. Player of Year; Shine Bowler; 37 catches for 875 yards, 12 TDs last season, 68 tackles, five interceptions.
Tommy Davis LB S. Wayne HS, Dudley 6-3, 220 4.6 None Carl Torbush extremely high on relatively unknown prospect when he committed last fall; excellent speed, lots of room to grow.
Jocques Dumas DL Asheboro HS, Asheboro 6-8, 230 4.75 Fla., Tenn., VT, Md., NCSU One of pearls of signing class; Bunting says should be “a Sunday player some day;” could put on 50 pounds of muscle in future.
Ike Emodi DE Riverside HS, Durham 6-4, 220 4.65 ECU Staff particularly high on his aggressive play and tough mindset; “He couldn't be blocked when he put his mind to it,” said one.
Chris Hawkins DB/WR Kinston HS, Kinston 5-11, 180 4.4 NCSU Three-year starter at corner and wideout, could play either in college; all-conference as CB; star on highly ranked basketball team.
Drew Hunter OL Ravenscroft HS, Raleigh 6-8, 265 5.25 NCSU, WF, Vand. Brings tremendous size and aggressiveness to college; two-time all-state selection among Independent schools; 101 tackles as sr.
Doug Justice LB Spruce Creek HS, Port Orange, Fla. 6-3, 220 4.8 Mich., NW, ND “Physical and fast” linebacker picked Carolina over midwest schools after Michigan reneged on offer; SuperPrep AA, No. 32 LB.
Harry Lewis ATH Mason County HS, Maysville, Ky. 6-3, 210 4.45 Kent. Likely WR, but QB, DB, perhaps LB possibilities; accounted for 54 TDs in career throwing, running, catching; state 2A player of year.
Jacque Lewis RB Northeastern HS, Elizabeth City 5-11, 187 4.4 NCSU, ECU Likely top RB in N.C., ranked No. 3 prospect in state by SuperPrep; Shrine Bowler, conference player of year; “Real deal” JB says.
Jeff Longhany LB Cape Fear HS, Fayetteville 6-4, 225 4.6 Clem., Tenn. Shrine Bowler had108 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions as senior; two-time all-region, all-conference selection.
Derrele Mitchell WR Reynolds HS, Winston-Salem 6-4, 200 4.5 ECU, Clem., NCSU, Tenn., VT, SC Another excellent catch at WR; Shrine Bowl, all-state in snaring 24 passes for 549 yards; good kick-return skills as well.
Chase Page OL Summerville HS, Summerville, SC 6-5, 260 4.8 UGa, Clem., SC, GT Played TE and OT in high school and could be factor at either position in college; S.C. Shrine Bowl pick; helped team to 11-2 mark.
Jarwarski Pollock WR Southeast HS, Bradenton, FL 5-8, 160 4.4 SC, Colo., Ark. First-team all-state pick caught 76 for 1,344 yards and 21 TDs as sr., 42 for 769 and nine TDs as jr.; attended Bosley Allen's school.
Danny Rumley TE Hoover HS, Birmingham, Ala. 6-4, 218 4.6 LSU, Ala., Miss., MSU, Kent. “Might be the catch of the group—watching him you think of [Randy Moss] of the Vikings;” among top WR prospects in Alabama.
Arthur Smith OL Georgetown Prep, Bethesda, Md. 6-3, 275 5.1 GT, Mary. First-team all-state, two-time all-conference, first-team all-metro selection; projected as guard or center in college.
The highlights appear to be snaring what retool a position decimated by only two One thing I didn’t like watching film from last the staff feels are the No. 1 tailback, defensive signings in the 1996 and ’97 classes. fall—and nobody likes it—was the fact that Ronald end and defensive tackle prospects in the “I think we’ve improved our athleticism, Curry was getting hit too much. With the new state and signing five offensive linemen. The and we now have better speed at the wide- system, improvement in the ones coming up, and latter quintet, combined with three newcom- receiver and defensive-back positions,” with the ones coming in, our quarterback will be ers in 2000 and seven in 1999, hopefully Bunting says. “I like these offensive linemen. more secure. I like that.”
PAGE TWO EXTRA POINTS Carolina also lured one quarterback to foremost.” available than originally thought because of Chapel Hill, that being Matt Baker, of Birming- “Carolina’s an easy sell for all of us, but attrition. Grades were going to be problems ham, Mich. Baker doesn’t have the glitzy particularly for Coach Bunting,” says receivers with several targets. Others looked like they ranking of some QBs, but new QB coach and coach Gunter Brewer. “He talks about wanting were headed elsewhere. offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill was to give something back, to be a molder and It was time, Bunting said, to dig deep—re- attracted to Baker while coaching at Virginia. shaper of young men like he was molded and evaluate tape, get new tapes in, find out who Baker apparently stood up well with the likes shaped during his time here.” was left in other states that might not be of McPherson and other blue-chips D.J. Steinbacher says that on recruiting week- traditional recruiting ground, work the phones Shockley, Brodie Croyle and Joe Mauer in a ends, when players and their parents come to with contacts up and down the East Coast to Nike camp in Georgia last summer. The Tar Chapel Hill, he had to keep the chief on see who might be overlooked. Heel staff likes his decision-making ability and schedule between one recruit and the next. “He did a great job starting cold turkey,” accuracy (only three interceptions last fall). “He could talk to one kid all day about Webster says. He’s smart and can throw the deep ball as well Carolina,” Steinbacher says. “I’d have to “We did a good job late in the process of as back off and feather the short ones. remind him, ‘Coach, you’ve got eight more to targeting guys,” Browning says. “Coach “I was thrilled when he said he was go.’” Bunting’s very aggressive. That came through.” coming,” Bunting says. “If you get to know For Bunting, nothing could be easier. “I’ve Two results of the last-month scampering him and study him, he’s probably as good an loved it,” he says. “It’s been fun. We’ve got so were Harry Lewis and Danny Rumley. Brewer athlete as some of the others, he’s just not much to sell. The tradition. The facilities. The spoke at a coaches’ clinic in Louisville, Ky., last scoring 45 points a night [a reference to academics. What is there not to love about winter and was given a tape of Lewis, an McPherson and his hoops skills]. But we’re not Carolina?” outstanding athlete who could play several bringing him here to play basketball.” A couple glimpses of Bunting during this positions in college. Brewer liked what he saw Despite any losses the Heels endured this recruiting season offer clues to the manner in but learned Lewis favored Kentucky. But when recruiting season, rest assured that the which he attends to detail and provides Kentucky Coach Hal Mumme was fired two groundwork is being laid to restore Carolina to leadership to his staff. weeks ago, Brewer and Bunting saw an the outstanding recruiting success it enjoyed Coming to Chapel Hill from the NFL, opening, jumped on a plane and reeled him in. under Brown from 1989-94, the years Carolina Bunting had to pass an exam on NCAA A phone call to an old coaching buddy alerted signed the backbones of its 1992-94 and 1996-97 recruiting rules before he could go on the road Brewer to Rumley, a receiver from Birming- pinnacle teams. “We want to own this state,” to evaluate prospects and visit their homes. ham, Ala., who was getting the shaft from SEC Bunting says. Steinbacher told him a couple of times he was schools because of his desire to attempt Bunting wants to include the District of ready to pass the exam, but Bunting wanted to walking-on to basketball. Carolina’s academic Columbia-area and Florida more in Carolina’s study some more. Eventually, Bunting took the reputation was key with Lewis’s parents, and recruiting base, but not before taking care of exam and got the only acceptable score—40 its JV basketball program and the success of business at home. Kenny Browning, shifted questions, 40 correct. Curry and Julius Peppers helped with Rumley. from defensive coordinator and tackles coach “Aced it,” Bunting said with a smile at his Of course, no one up to and including John to recruiting coordinator and tight-ends coach, signing day press conference. Bunting will know how good this class will be has ideas to improve the Tar Heels’ March Once Bunting had most of his staff as- until at least 2003. The staff likes the heart and clinic and summer camp operations and wants sembled by mid-January, he noted that the toughness of its 21 new Tar Heels. If they work to make more use of e-tech and e-mail. recruiting board in the staff conference room out like Corey Holliday did 13 years ago, Browning also wants to move the recruiting was looking a little thin. The Tar Heels were Bunting’s off to a good start. calendar up—to locate, evaluate and offer likely going to have more scholarships — LEE PACE prospects sooner. And there certainly are ideas and recruiting contacts to be brought to the table from new coaches such as Jim Webster (from East Carolina), Jon Tenuta (Ohio State), Rod Broadway (Florida), Tranquill and Andre Powell (Virginia) and Dave Huxtable (most recently Oklahoma State, before that East Carolina and Georgia Tech). Most noteworthy, however, are the Tar Heel pedigrees from Bunting, Webster (Carolina letterman 1969-71), Broadway (1974-77), Holliday and Rick Steinbacher (an administra- tor alongside Holliday and a classmate of Holliday’s at Carolina). The word passion creeps up again here as assistant coaches speak of watching Bunting in the living rooms of prospects. “Being a Carolina man brings a little something extra to the table,” says Webster. “You can look a kid and his parents in the eye and tell them what the experience did for you, how it affected your life. Those four or five years literally shape your life. John can speak from the heart about those things.” “He’s got a tremendous love for this university,” says offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell. “That comes through first and
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