Freshman running back Jamal Womble has decided to transfer from UNC, one of five players who will no longer be part of the program. According to ACC Now, Womble cited academic issues on his Facebook page as the reason for his transfer. WR Rashad Mason is also transferring. Linebacker Hawatha Bell was dismissed from the team following a bowl game suspension. Tight end Randy White is simply leaving the team and tight end Vance Jacobs is opting for graduation in May.
Womble is the only player who saw significant time out of the five departing players. Womble broke his wrist midway through the season but was expected to be back for spring practice. Ideally, Womble would give the Heels some extra depth in the backfield since it was unlikely Womble would take carries away from either Shaun Draughn or Ryan Houston.
On the recruiting front, UNC failed to secure a commit from four prospects playing in the U.S. Army All-American game over the weekend. Four players in the game had UNC listed in their top four, a pair had UNC in their top two. All four announced their school choice which was not UNC.
And what could have been a huge day for UNC’s so-far disappointing Class of 2010 wound up being a nonentity, with no commitments.
The most painful loss was that of Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes DE Brandon Willis, a consensus Top 100 player. Posters and emails assured me all week that Willis, who had recently decommitted from Tennessee, was now committed, sealed and delivered for the Tar Heels.
Uh, no. He grabbed the Volunteers’ hat instead.
The 2010 class, currently ranked 56th by Scout.com, is looking fairly thin at the moment with only 12 commits and signing day less than a month away. UNC is still in play with multiple four star recruits so hopefully Butch Davis and his staff can still pull in some good players at the last minute. Not to mention the possibility of players making switches at the last minute like Greg Little a few years back.