Carolina football’s recruiting class looks good, with one exception.

Larry Fedora issued the warning after UNC released its up-to-date list of 20 signees from the high school class of 2017. No quarterbacks signed so far, and that means who replaces Mitch Trubisky will be a great unknown until at least after spring practice.

Carolina was hoping that Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire would sign as soon as Trubisky announced he was turning pro, but the fifth-year graduate student who can play immediately for the school he would attend has announced it won’t be until mid-April before he makes up his mind on UNC, Wisconsin or another alternative he is secretly considering.

The Tar Heels have quarterbacks in the program, but Fedora suggested that the coach who begins any season without a stud capable of moving the offense is one step closer to getting fired. So despite losing his top three receivers, top three offensive linemen and top three running backs, Trubisky leaving without any successor in the wings is by far Fedora’s biggest loss.

Zaire reportedly has remained in Arizona to work out privately, but the fact he did not sign somewhere to participate in spring practice means he may have something completely different on his mind. Maybe it’s that new four-team semi-pro league that is starting in California. Can’t imagine any newcomer would be guaranteed the starting position with just one summer training camp to learn the offense, and can’t imagine any coach promising that to any transfer.

Otherwise, Fedora and the Tar Heels had a pretty good signing day, with a class ranked No. 26 in the nation by ESPN and higher by other polls. They signed five offensive linemen, which was a big need, plus four D-backs and several others who could wind up in the secondary. One 6-4 receiver from Texas named Beau Corrales who has the name, the game and the looks to be an instant star.

Fedora allowed that some untested running backs will have to step up to replace Hood, Logan and Francis, but the big question remains who will hand them the ball or pull it back and sling it.

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