North Carolina has been a fertile state for schools to recruit for decades. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels and other in-state schools, it's been out-of-state programs that have lured away the top prospects.
There's an incredible mix of talent in North Carolina. Tyrone Crowder (Rockingham, N.C./Richmond) is one of the top interior offensive linemen in the country. Greg Gilmore (Hope Mills, N.C./South View) is one of the top-rated defensive tackles. The rest of the top five prospects in the state -- cornerback Brian Walker (Charlotte/Mallard Creek), basketball-player-turned-tight-end Josh McNeil (Durham, N.C./Hillside) and receiver Marquez North (Charlotte/Mallard Creek) -- are also ESPN 150 prospects.
There is a pair of ESPN 300 quarterbacks in Tennessee commit Riley Ferguson (Matthews, N.C./Butler) and South Carolina commit Connor Mitch (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) in the state as well.