UNC Recruiting: JuCo OL Kelby Wickline commits to North Carolina

This year’s iteration of Tar Heels football has been plagued by a weak offensive line all season long. However, with the 2017 recruiting class, Larry Fedora hopes to alleviate concerns by recruiting heavily on guards and tackles. As part of this initiative, UNC has successfully courted JuCo offensive lineman Kelby Wickline.

The six-foot-five, 276-pound Oklahoma native has jumped around a bit over the course of his collegiate career. He started out at UTSA where his father is the offensive coordinator for the Roadrunners. Wickline then moved back home to attend Jones County Junior College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. After deciding to transfer, he chose UNC over Arkansas and Missouri. As a Tar Heel he will have another three years of eligibility.

Wickline is a three-star athlete capable of filling in at both the tackle and the guard positions, giving Fedora some much needed versatility on the line. He ranks 42nd overall in the JuCo composite and is considered the eight-best offensive tackle in his class. He is also said to be the 18th-best talent in the state of Oklahoma.

North Carolina has put a lot of thought into building up their offensive line for the 2017 class. After the season their O-line has had in 2016, it would appear to be the right move. Wickline is their 16th verbal commit for next year, and their fifth addition to the line. The class already consists of offensive guards Jonah Melton and Brian Anderson, and offensive tackles Billy Ross and Marcus McCathan. Adding Wickline is sure to make their incoming improvements even more effective.