All Tar Heels

UNC Football Enjoys 300-Pound Boost on 2025 Recruiting Trail

Next year's UNC football recruiting class welcomes three-star offensive lineman Byron Nelson.

Matt Giles

UNC football head coach Mack Brown
UNC football head coach Mack Brown / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Katy High School (Texas) offensive guard Byron Nelson checked out the UNC football program in person last week. He picked up an offer from Mack Brown and his staff before leaving campus.

That followed two other official visits to Pitt and Vanderbilt earlier this month. The June trips marked Nelson's three finalists. And on Friday afternoon, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound rising senior announced his "100%" commitment to the Tar Heels.

He revealed the decision via the following post:

Nelson, who racked up more than a dozen offers in his recruitment, is a three-star prospect appearing at No. 1,073 overall, No. 174 in Texas, and No. 74 among interior offensive linemen on the 247Sports 2025 Composite.

UNC football's 2025 recruiting haul now contains 12 verbal commits: three composite four-star talents, including Gainesville High School (Ga.) offensive tackle Alex Payne, and nine three-stars.

The addition of Byron Nelson, undoubtedly a promising bruiser, bumped the Tar Heels' collection to No. 37 overall in the country, per 247Sports. It currently trails seven fellow ACC schools in the rankings: No. 7 Clemson, No. 16 Miami, No. 18 Georgia Tech, No. 21 Syracuse, No. 22 Stanford, No. 23 Duke, and No. 34 Pitt.

Mack Brown and his recruiting team finished with the nation's No. 26 class in the 2024 arena.

More UNC Football News

Published
Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

Home/Football