UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback
By Jacob Kauer
On Tuesday, June 30th, 2021 Five-Star Cornerback Tony Grimes committed to the UNC Tar Heels.
Tony Grimes became the latest edition to the Tar Heels elite 2021 recruiting class on Tuesday when he chose Mack Brown and UNC over Alabama, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Georgia. Grimes is rated as the #1 Cornerback in the Nation, the #1 player in the state of Virginia, and the #6 player in the entire class of 2021, according to ESPN. 247Sports doesn’t think as highly of Grimes as they have him ranked as only the #7 player in the class of 2021.
Grimes stands around 6 feet tall, weighs 180 and has elite speed and athleticism that projects well for a future in the NFL. As a junior, Grimes had 48 tackles and 4 interceptions, while leading his team to the playoffs. He is a very physical player, with a good upper body, but UNC will have to develop his lower body to fill out his potential. His speed allows him to cover deep passes with ease and his upper body strength makes him perfect to run press coverage and bump and run on wide receivers. Grimes should have no issues stepping into the Atlantic Coast Conference and having an immediate impact on the football field.
When asked about his commitment, Grimes referenced the impact that Mack Brown and the success the Tar Heels had last season as big factors in why he committed there. Grimes also appears to value the relationship between a coach and player, showing Brown and his assistants did an exceptional job of making players feel wanted and like a family.
Tar Heels fans can welcome Grimes to the team by following him on Twitter @757EliteDB or by going here.
Mack Brown is building something special in Chapel Hill
In his first season, in his second stint as the Tar Heels head coach, Mack Brown led the team to its first bowl victory since 2013, with a victory in the 2019 Military Bowl. In his first season back, Brown changed the attitude and culture of his team and found Sam Howell, a quarterback with unlimited potential and only one year of eligibility gone. With Howell as the Tar Heels cornerstone on offense for the foreseeable future, Grimes has the chance to be that same piece for the defense.
Since his return to the Tar Heels, Brown has done really well in the world of recruiting, blowing all other North Carolina teams away. According to 247Sports, the UNC Class of 2020 is ranked 19th in the country and 3rd in the ACC, with 13 players. The 2021 class, headlined by Grimes, is even better as it is ranked 3rd in the country and 2nd in the ACC, with 17 commitments. NC State and Wake Forest are ranked 39 and 40, respectively in the class of 2021.
Not to mention, the ACC Coastal Division is getting weaker and weaker every season, meaning Brown and Grimes have a realistic chance to get to the ACC Championship game and farther.