Linebacker Michael Short completed his flip from East Carolina to North Carolina Thursday morning during a ceremony at his school. The Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek standout chose the Tar Heels over Wake Forest.
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WHAT THE TAR HEELS ARE GETTING
Short is a physical linebacker who can get into the backfield and create chaos. He’s a versatile prospect who can put his hand in the ground and rush off the edge or play any of the linebacker positions. Short has a frame that can hold a lot more solid mass and the Tar Heel strength and conditioning staff should be able to mold his frame how they see fit. There will be an adjustment period for Short as he gets used to the speed of the college game. He’ll also have to get used to fending off blockers who are much stronger and more advanced than he’s used to. Short does have some ability in coverage but he’ll mainly be counted on as a playmaker near the line of scrimmage.
WHY IT’S BIG FOR NORTH CAROLINA
This is an important addition for North Carolina after losing a commitment from Kaveion Keys. Short has a lot of similar abilities to Keys and should be able to fill the void left by him in this class. North Carolina flexed their recruiting muscles flipping the in-state prospect from East Carolina. A move like this shouldn’t be very hard to pull off for North Carolina at any point if they hope to continue their rise to national prominence.
