Butch Davis was sitting by the fax machine at 7:30 a.m. when the letters began to pour in.
Ten minutes later 14 of the eventual 29 signees had their letters in and Rivals.com's No. 8-ranked recruiting class was beginning to take shape.
But where was Donavan Tate's?
The athletic quarterback and two-sport star from Cartersville Ga. said he would have his letter of intent sent to UNC by 7:30 a.m. But with Signing Day Live about to begin at 10 a.m." Davis began frantically trying to contact him.
""Burning up the cell phone line" calling mom high school coach baseball coach football coach — everyone" Davis said.
We got out bloodhounds and FBI and CIA.
""We're like" ‘Did he get kidnapped" hijacked? Do we have to get a ransom out? Did George Steinbrenner find him?'""
Eventually"" the mystery was solved — Tate's mother simply couldn't locate a fax machine until late morning.
Tate was just one cog in a huge recruiting class that addressed some key needs for the Tar Heels — and it all began close to home.
UNC signed three out of Rivals.com's top four in-state prospects and 12 of the top 35.
""It started" first and foremost that we wanted to do a great job in the state of North Carolina Davis said.
As much as possible" we want to turn over every stone in this state.""
The strategy paid off" with five-star defensive end Donte Moss four-star wide receiver Jheranie Boyd and defensive tackle Jared McAdoo" among others.
The 2009 recruiting class is also notable for its sheer size. The Tar Heels signed 29 players but only have 25 scholarships to dole out.
Davis said the practice of over-signing is common among schools. The situation is typically resolved by ""grayshirting"" players for injuries or sending some temporarily to postgraduate schools and delaying their entry into UNC.
North Carolina solved some position-specific needs with the recruiting haul. After losing its top five receivers from last year" UNC signed five more" including Boyd and fellow four-star Joshua Adams.
The Tar Heels also signed seven defensive backs to the class to bolster the coverage unit.
""We said we needed speed" and a great deal of these guys can really run well Davis said. We needed playmakers" guys that can make plays that can change the complexion of the ball game. And that's in the history of these guys.""
Davis said that he expects about half of the class to step in and play a role next year but that the real test for the class will not come for another two years" when most of them have cracked the usual rotation.
The solid class though" is another indication of a program on the rise.
""I think that there's been a significant amount of buzz about this program for the last 18 months" Davis said.
As the wins have gotten better certainly the stadium expansion going to a bowl game being on national television — there's an awful lot of very" very positive momentum.
""And I think that the '09 recruiting class just continues to add to another step in that process of building this program.""
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Signing Day
