THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997 TAG: 9702080649
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 81 lines
Florida State once again signed the most impressive list of football recruits in the nation, but some experts say ACC rival North Carolina is closing ground on the Seminoles.
``North Carolina is accumulating the kind of talent that would allow them to beat Florida State on the field,'' SuperPrep recruiting magazine publisher Allen Wallace.
Wallace, like most other experts, rates Florida State's recruiting class No. 1 in the country. But his SuperPrep and two other top recruiting services - National Recruiting Advisor and Prep Football Report, had North Carolina in their top 10.
Wallace said the Tar Heels' recruits are the school's best in the 12 years he has been at the magazine. ``To say they are making strides in an understatement,'' Wallace said.
While UNC normally collects the top high school talent in-state, this year it went national and won big battles against established powerhouses.
Unable to sign any running backs last year, coach Mack Brown and his staff inked a trio of SuperPrep All-Americans when the national signing period began Wednesday: Ravon Anderson (5-10, 185) of Hoboken, N.J., Rufus Brown (6-1, 200) of Belzoni, Miss., and Domonique Williams (6-0, 195) of Brandywine, Md. The Tar Heels beat out Notre Dame and Nebraska for Anderson, and Tennessee and Notre Dame for Brown and Williams.
Williams, a Parade All-American, played quarterback in high school but was promised a chance at running back at UNC. SuperPrep ranks him as the No. 2 skilled athlete in the nation and ninth-best overall athlete.
The Tar Heels signed one other running back, Tyrell Godwin, of Council, N.C.
``It is not a problem having too many tailbacks, but not enough,'' Brown said. ``I think the tailbacks we've signed are as good as any in the country.''
UNC's other major signees were Billy-Dee Greenwood (6-2, 170) a first-team USA Today and Parade All-American defensive back from Stamford, Conn., and Merceda Perry (6-4, 230), a SuperPrep All-America linebacker from Asheboro, N.C.
Brown credited the recruiting success to the stability and recent success of his program. UNC has been to five straight bowl games, won 10 games twice in the past four years, and finished last season in the top 10 for the first time since 1981.
Elsewhere in the ACC:
Virginia: The Cavaliers are still recruiting, but most analysts put their class behind FSU, UNC, and Clemson. The most immediate help may come from linebacker Yubrenal Isabelle, defensive back Devon Simmons, and place kicker Greg Owens.
Florida State: Bobby Bowden is still putting together what already is being called the nation's top recruiting class. The biggest catch was David Warren, USA Today's top defensive player of the year.
Clemson: Coach Tommy West said the 29 high school and junior college players he signed represent his ``best class by far.'' Among the signees were eight defensive backs, five quarterbacks, four linebackers and three offensive linemen. Said West: ``Our needs were defensive backs and skill players who can break games open for you. I feel we accomplished that.''
Duke: The class isn't as deep as those the last two years, but coach Fred Goldsmith achieved his primary objective by signing three top defensive linemen - Nick Wilkerson of Franklin, Ga., Tyran Grossom of Detroit and Jason Ptak of Wyandotte, Mich. He also signed two of the nation's top tight end prospects, Nate Krill of McLean, Va., and Mike Hart, of Sayville, N.Y.
Georgia Tech: George O'Leary signed 19 players, including three linebackers, three offensive linemen, and two defensive linemen.
Maryland: Ron Vanderlinden, Maryland's new coach, began the recruiting period with 18 signees and hopes to add more. The biggest catch was running back LaMont Jordan of Forestville, Md. Said Vanderlinden: ``He is the guy we wanted most, someone we can build around.''
N.C. State: Mike O'Cain, looking for immediate help, signed a pair of junior college linemen, Greg Derrick and Andre Wray, both of Garden City (Kan.) Junior College. Also promising quick help is defensive back Anthony Cason, a former Indian River High School star who spent last year at Milford Academy.
Wake Forest: Among the 17 early signees was coach Jim Caldwell's son, Jimmy, a wide receiver. Also signing were a pair of huge linemen, 330-pound Kevin Gamble of Washington, D.C., and 315-pound Michael Collins of Hickory, N.C.