North Carolina moves into top 25 of On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings

North Carolina is back in the top 25 of the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings. Following a commitment from Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch three-star wide receiver Paul Billups, the Tar Heels rose three spots from No. 26 to No. 23, passing Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Michigan.

Billups is the No. 648 overall recruit and No. 97 wide receiver in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 13 player in Virginia.

North Carolina, whose 2023 recruiting class also ranks No. 5 in the ACC, currently contains 16 commitments. The group is composed of five four-stars and 11 three-stars.

More on North Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class

So far in the 2023 cycle, the Tar Heels have been successful recruiting their home state. They have commitments from four of North Carolina’s top 12 players in Durham (N.C.) Southern four-star EDGE Jaybron Harvey, Hickory (N.C.) four-star EDGE Rico Walker, Harrisburg (N.C.) Hickory Ridge four-star Christian Hamilton and Maiden (N.C.) four-star Chris Gulliver.

Additionally, the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine heavily favors the Tar Heels to land Concord (N.C.) Jay M. Robinson four-star defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs, the No. 2 player in North Carolina. The RPM lists the Tar Heels’ odds for Hobbs at 91.9%.

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North Carolina has also found success recruiting Virginia. Billups became the Tar Heels’ fourth commit from the state alongside Richmond (Va.) four-star defensive lineman Joel Starlings, Stafford (Va.) Colonial Forge three-star offensive tackle Nolan McConnell and Ashburn (Va.) Loudoun Valley three-star tight end Julien Randolph.

Billups also continued North Carolina’s summer momentum on the recruiting trail. This month, the Tar Heels have landed Billups, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes three-star defensive lineman Joshua Horton and Cornelius (N.C.) William Amos Hough three-star quarterback Tad Hudson.

July was even more successful. That month, North Carolina earned pledges from four of the top five players in their class in Culliver, Hamilton, Harvey and Walker. The Tar Heels also notched commitments from Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb three-star interior offensive lineman Robert Grigsby and Roebuck (S.C.) Dorman three-star interior offensive lineman DJ Geth in early July.

Additionally, North Carolina earned five commitments in June. Two of them, Edmond (Okla.) Deer Creek three-star cornerback Dale Miller and Cary (N.C.) Panther Creek three-star EDGE Tyler Thompson, are top-675 prospects.