UNC football recruiting class 2023: Meet the Tar Heels' early signees
North Carolina football got a better handle on its future Wednesday before the Tar Heels shift their focus to No. 15 Oregon at the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28.
The Tar Heels had 19 commitments from the Class of 2023 ahead of Wednesday, the opening day of the early signing period. They saw 20 players ink their commitments to join the program.
As of Wednesday afternoon, UNC football’s latest recruiting class comes in at No. 26 in the nation, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. The Tar Heels have six recruits each from Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia, and one each from Oklahoma and South Carolina.
HOLIDAY BOWL BOUND:UNC football will play in Holiday Bowl against Oregon
By the numbers, the 2023 class is on track to be Brown’s worst-ranked recruiting class since returning to Chapel Hill. He is four seasons into his second stint with the Tar Heels.
The 2022 class was ranked 11th in the nation – UNC’s best overall class ranking since coming in at 10th in 2007 – and 2021 was 14th.
Here are the players who have signed in UNC's 2023 class so far.
UNC football Class of 2023 signees
OL Robert Grigsby
Hometown/School: Kennesaw, Ga. (North Cobb)
Vitals: 6-3, 310 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 879; position ranking: 69
DL Tyler Thompson
Hometown/School: Cary, N.C. (Panther Creek)
Vitals: 6-4, 219 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: 256; position ranking: 30
DL Jaybron Harvey
Hometown/School: Durham, N.C. (Southern)
Vitals: 6-3, 215 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: 242; position ranking: 26
S Ayden Duncanson
Hometown/School: Mableton, Ga. (Whitefield Academy)
Vitals: 6-2, 185 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 836; position ranking: 72
DL Rodney Lora
Hometown/School: Woodberry Forest, Va. (Woodberry Forest)
Vitals: 6-4, 270 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 804; position ranking: 88
CB Ty Adams
Hometown/School: Swainsboro, Ga. (Swainsboro)
Vitals: 5-11, 175 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 894; position ranking: 90
LB Amare Campbell
Hometown/School: Manassas, Va. (Unity Reed)
Vitals: 6-0, 215 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: N/A/; position ranking: 111
OL D.J. Geth
Hometown/School: Roebuck, S.C. (Dorman)
Vitals: 6-4, 300 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: N/A; position ranking: 81
TE Julien Randolph
Hometown/School: Ashburn, Va. (Independence)
Vitals: 6-5, 210 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 571; position ranking: 26
CB Kaleb Cost
Hometown/School: Tyrone, Ga. (Sandy Creek)
Vitals: 5-10, 180 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 746; position ranking: 78
OT Nolan McConnell
Hometown/School: Stafford, Va. (Colonial Forge)
Vitals: 6-6, 280 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 583; position ranking: 46
WR Christian Hamilton
Hometown/School: Harrisburg, N.C. (Hickory Ridge)
Vitals: 6-0, 175 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: 352; position ranking: 50
DL Joel Starlings
Hometown/School: Richmond, Va. (Benedictine)
Vitals: 6-5, 310 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: 314; position ranking: 43
LB Michael Short
Hometown/School: Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)
Vitals: 6-3, 220 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: N/A; position ranking: 112
WR Chris Culliver
Hometown/School: Maiden, N.C. (Maiden)
Vitals: 6-3, 174 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: 202; position ranking: 28
RB Jordan Louie
Hometown/School: Norcross, Ga. (Meadowcreek)
Vitals: 5-11, 205 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 695; position ranking: 50
WR Paul Billups
Hometown/School: Chesapeake, Va. (Western Branch)
Vitals: 6-2, 185 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 779; position ranking: 105
CB Tre Miller
Hometown/School: Edmond, Ok. (Deer Creek)
Vitals: 5-9, 165 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 678; position ranking: 68
LB Caleb LaVallee
Hometown/School: Mableton, Ga. (Whitefield Academy)
Vitals: 6-1, 215 pounds
247Sports Composite: three stars; national ranking: 725; position ranking: 60
QB Tad Hudson
Hometown/School: Cornelius, N.C. (Hough)
Vitals: 6-3, 200 pounds
247Sports Composite: four stars; national ranking: 376; position ranking: 24
UNC football 2022 early signing day live updates
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football recruiting class 2023: Meet the Tar Heels early signees
