Campbell a building block for revamped UNC defense

Kyree Campbell did what many expected he would and picked North Carolina on Monday, giving the Tar Heels a huge building block in the trenches as Gene Chizik takes over the defensive reins.

Campbell is fresh off his latest trip to UNC and he's always liked the Tar Heels. It wasn't a huge surprise when he picked UNC because of his history with the school.

"It was just a great place," Campbell said in explaining his decision. "The atmosphere was great. Mom loved it and my little brother and my little sister loved it. It just felt like home. I have a great connection with the players. The players have a great connection with my family as well. I've known most of the players from Alexandria. The connection me and Coach Scott has it extremely important and extremely good. The connection I have with all the coaches period is great."

Scott will be Campbell's position coach in Chapel Hill. His recruiter from Larry Fedora's staff is John Papuchis, who aided Scott greatly. Their relationships were very important for Campbell.

"When Coach Gilmore left it kind of messed me up a little bit because I built a great connection with him," Campbell admitted, as he has in the past. "But they told me about Coach Scott and I was looking forward to meeting him. Ever since then, since the first time I met him he's been a great dude and a great coach. Being able to watch him coach and see how he coaches his guys has been phenomenal. He does a great job."

Gene Chizik is always a big selling point with defensive recruits and he was obviously a factor for Campbell as well.

"He just said I'm a main factor to the defense and he wants to build a defense around me," Campbell said. "He's straightforward. He's not sugarcoating anything. He doesn't say he wants me, he says he needs me there. He said he needs dudes like me so we can get this train rolling."

Beyond the coaching staff the school itself is a place Campbell is comfortable with.

"My mom likes how it's not in the city and it's not in a bad part of the area, and how it's a good environment around," Campbell explained.

Academically UNC met what Campbell was looking for.

"We got to see the academic center (on his last trip). They just gave me a layout. I like how they presented it and they showed me exactly what I would be going through as a college student at North Carolina," he continued. "And as an athlete. They gave me how your tutors are set up and how they work around the practice schedule and your lifting schedule."

Of course, UNC will continue its pursuit of five-star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence as well.

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