One of the strongest recruiting classes in the history of the UNC football program just got a major boost.

Five-star offensive lineman Zach Rice, rated by 247 Sports as the best high school offensive lineman in the country and the No. 7 player overall, committed to head coach Mack Brown and the Tar Heels Thursday night. Rice was also considering Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State and Virginia.

As part of his commitment announcement, Rice pulled out a pair of Carolina blue Jordan shoes and declared, “No more secrets.”

“I will be a program changer,” he said to the crowd.

Rice was most recently on UNC’s campus when he visited for Carolina’s 59-39 victory over Virginia in September. He is from Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg, VA, and is the sixth member of UNC’s 2022 recruiting class from the state of Virginia.

Rice is the second Top 10 national recruit in the 2022 class to commit to Carolina, after defensive lineman Travis Shaw did so in August. Shaw, Rice and four-star running back George Pettaway give the Tar Heels three recruits in the nation’s Top 100, according to 247 Sports.

The website describes Rice as an “agile and high-level athlete” who “plays with attitude and nastiness,” and projects him as a multi-year starter in college and potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft.

With Rice’s commitment, UNC’s 2022 recruiting class moves into ninth place in the nation, and first among ACC teams. Among the few teams ahead of the Tar Heels are Alabama, LSU and Georgia.

 

Featured image via Carolina Athletics

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