2024 OT Jani Norwood commits to North Carolina Tar Heels

Ramseur (N.C.) Eastern Randolph offensive tackle Jani Norwood announced his commitment to North Carolina on Wednesday. He chose the Tar Heels over Charlotte and Coastal Carolina.

Norwood is not ranked in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking and the 2024 On300. He is 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds.

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Norwood is North Carolina’s fourth commit since March 30. The others are Brentwood (Tenn.) Franklin Road Academy three-star offensive tackle Luke Masterson, Germantown (Tenn.) EDGE Daniel Anderson and Alpharetta (Ga.) Mill Creek three-star interior offensive lineman Aidan Banfield.

The North Carolina native is now the ninth member of North Carolina’s 2024 recruiting class. The others are Anderson, Masterson, Banfield, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep four-star running back Davion Gause, Ball Ground (Ga.) Creekview three-star offensive tackle Andrew Rosinski, Arden (N.C.) Christ School three-star athlete Khalil Conley, Eatonton (Ga.) Gatewood School three-star linebacker Evan Bennett and Clemmons (N.C.) West Forsyth three-star interior offensive lineman Desmond Jackson.

The Tar Heels’ group is currently No. 22 in the 2024 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 4 in the ACC. Brown and Co. are still after multiple blue-chip targets, including Burlington (N.C.) Hugh M. Cummings four-star wide receiver Jonathan Paylor, Marietta (Ga.) Walton On3 four-star linebacker Ashton Woods and Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley four-star wide receiver Terrell Anderson.

“I love UNC,” Woods told On3’s Jeremy Johnson on Feb. 15 “The relationship just keeps building. It’s built with coach (Tommy) Thigpin, Lonnie (Galloway), the recruiting coordinator and the receivers coach, but he’s always reaching out and checking on us. I’ve started talking to coach (Gene) Chizik and even Mack Brown.”

North Carolina notched a top-35 class in 2023

Last cycle, North Carolina’s recruiting class finished No. 31 in the 2023 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 5 in the ACC. It included 20 players and was composed of 5 four-stars, as well as 15 three-stars. 

Five of those recruits were among the top 20 players in North Carolina: Maiden (N.C.) four-star wide receiver Chris Culliver, Durham (N.C.) Southern four-star EDGE Jaybron Harvey, Cary (N.C.) Panther Creek four-star EDGE Tyler Thompson, Harrisburg (N.C.) Hickory Ridge four-star wide receiver Christian Hamilton and Cornelius (N.C.) William Amos Hough three-star quarterback Tad Hudson.

All of the aforementioned players outside of Hudson chose the Tar Heels between June 29 and July 4. North Carolina also signed Richmond (Va.) Benedictine four-star defensive lineman Joel Starlings, the No. 310 overall prospect and No. 41 defensive lineman in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking.