More on Brandon Willis, now a Tar Heels Target

If Duncan Byrnes’ Brandon Willis does pick North Carolina over UCLA come Saturday—or Tennessee, for that matter, since the Vols are apparently still popular with him and his family—it will be a huge and much-needed addition to the Tar Heels’ class of 2010.

So far, North Carolina has no defensive ends—no defensive linemen, in fact, in that group. And not only would Willis remedy that problem, he would do so in a big way.

Because Willis is a big-time recruit. He is ranked No.4 in SC on The Observer’s Top 25 Prospects list. And the fact that he will play in the Army All-American Game Saturday says a lot as well.

Willis, a terror as a junior with 144 tackles including 13 sacks, had 13 more sacks as a senior. He’s the kind of big and quick player who could earn playing time as a freshman, could grow into a defensive tackle and eventually be all-ACC. Or all-Pac-10 or all-SEC, for that matter.

--Stan Olson