Previewing UNC's recruiting class

North Carolina has assembled one of the top recruiting classes in the country.

Scout.com has the UNC class ranked No. 3 in the country behind Ohio State and LSU. Rivals.com puts the UNC class in its No. 6 slot.

The Tar Heels were particularly effective in North Carolina.

Coach Butch Davis is expected to sign 12 of the top 35 players in the state, according to rivals. Even more impressive is that the Tar Heels are expected to get seven of the nine players in North Carolina that rivals has rated four stars or higher.

The class prize may be defensive end Donte Moss of Jacksonville Northside. He is rated a five-star, one of the nation's elite, and is the top-rated player in state.

Other key additions are quarterbacks Bryn Renner from West Springfield, Va., and Donovan Tate.

A big question for the class is how many will count on this year’s class. UNC has 29 commitments.

The News & Observer will be following recruiting developments throughout the day. The N.C. State analysis already has been posted. The Duke analysis will be posted at 1 p.m. and the Wake Forest class at 3 p.m. On Tuesday, East Carolina's class and other ACC classes will be presented.

More analysis on all of the ACC classes will be posted on Wednesday.

Following is a list of players who have made unofficial commitments to North Carolina. Players may sign national letters of intent on Wednesday, which are official commitments.

The stars by the players' names represent each recruit's ranking by rivals.com on a one-to-five star rating system.

North Carolina commitments:

★★★ Josh Adams • Cheshire, Conn. • 6-4 • 200
January enrollee had 48 receptions for 970 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior season.

★★★★ Hawatha Bell • Matthews • 6-1 • 225
Butler linebacker was a Shrine Bowl pick and had 86 tackles as senior , caused five fumbles and blocked a punt. Had sack fumble recovery in Shrine Bowl. Combines the toughness of an inside LB with 4.5 speed.

★★★★ A.J. Blue • Chatham, Va. • 6-2 • 205
North Gaston High graduate played at Hargrave Military in 2008 and is a versatile runner who can play several positions

★★★ Travis Bond • Windsor • 6-7 • 330
Bertie High offensive linemen has size and strength

★★★★ Jheranie Boyd • Gastonia • 6-2 • 184
4.4 speed and has a 40-inch vertical leap. The Shrine Bowl pick had 56 catches for 914 yards and eight TDs this season. Uses speed to go deep and can get behind defenders. Is a good blocker

★★★ Prizell Brown • Brenham, Texas • 6-4 • 258
Played at Blinn Community College, catching 15 passes and rushing 11 times in 2007.

★★★ D.J. Bunn • Smithfield • 5-11 • 190
Smithfield-Selma defensive back also makes big plays as a kick returner

★★ Curtis Campbell • Chesapeake, Va. • 6-2 • 205
Also ran track; fastest times are 21.4 seconds in the 200m and 47.2 seconds in the 400m.

★★★ David Collins • Kernersville • 6-7 • 290
East Forsyth offensive lineman lost 50 pounds, gained quickness

★★★ Vincent Davis • Monroe • 6-1 • 195
Sun Valley wide receiver runs great routes and can move after the catch

★★★★ Justin Dixon • Smithfield • 6-0 • 228
Has outstanding speed and can be a punishing linebacker

★★★★ Johnnie Farms • Perry, Ga. • 6-2 • 285
Ranked one of the top 30 offensive guards in the country by espn.com.

★★ C.J. Feagles • Ridgewood, N.J. • 5-11 • 180
Son of New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles also played WR as a senior, grabbing five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.

★★ Hunter Furr • Lewisville • 6-0 • 197
Rushed for more than 3,500 career yeards; state champ in the 100, 200 and long jump.

★★★ Angelo Hadley • Seffner, Fla. • 6-0 • 187
Intercepted 10 passes during his senior season and had 19 interceptions in his career. High school teammates of UNC commitment Mywan Jackson.

★★ Erik Highsmith • Vanceboro • 6-2 • 172
Also played defensive back and quarterback in high school.

★★★★ Josh Hunter • Charlotte • 6-2 • 172
UNC held off strong pushes by South Carolina and Clemson to keep Mallard Creek cornerback

★★★ Mywan Jackson • Seffner, Fla. • 5-11 • 169
Led a triple-opion offensive attack at quarterback in 2008, gaining 1,200 yards and 16 TDs on the ground.

★★★★ Jared McAdoo • Chapel Hill • 6-2 • 285
Made nine tackles in the Shrine Bowl Game and dominated throughout the season

★★★ Josh McKie • Maudin, S.C. • 6-0 • 176
His father, James, played wide receiver at South Carolina.

★★★★★ Donte Moss • Jacksonville • 6-4 • 235
Defensive end had 25 sacks as senior. Remarkable 4.6 speed for his size and should add muscle in college. Played LB in Shrine Bowl but will probably be a DE in Chapel Hill. Played in Army All-American game in San Antonio.

★★ Shane Mularkey • Norcross, Ga. • 6-3 • 215
His father, Mike, is the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.

★★★ Kevin Reddick • Chatham, Va. • 6-3 • 230
Former New Bern star played at Hargrave Military in 2008 and should press for immediate playing time at linebacker.

★★★★ Bryn Renner • West Springfield, Va. • 6-3 • 192 • See video
Passed for 3,123 yards and 35 touchdowns with only four interceptions in 2008. Superprep magazine ranks him as the No. 24 prospect in the country and the No. 3 quarterback prospect.

★★★ Jerrell Rhodes • Durham • 5-10 • 195
Jordan runner was injured much of his senior year, but can run and catch. Rushed for more than 4,000 yards in his career

★★★ Gene Robinson • Memphis, Tenn. • 5-10 • 165
Defensive back had 70 tackles, three interceptions and five blocked kicks and punts as a senior. Ranked the No. 28 safety prospect in the country by scout.com.

★★★★ Terry Shankle • Norwood • 5-10 • 167
South Stanly cornerback has been clocked in a 4.3 40 and is exceptional cover man. Caught 43 passes for 1,291 yards.

★★★★ Donovan Tate • Cartersville, Ga. • 6-2 • 205
Earned the 2009 Doc Blanchard Award as the nation’s top football player at US Army All-America game. Played safety, cornerback, wide receiver, running back and quarterback in high school. Also an outstanding baseball player.

★★★★ Brennan Williams • West Roxbury, Mass. • 6-6 • 272
His father, Brent, played in the NFL from 1986-1993 with the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets.

— Robbi Pickeral and Tim Stevens