JUCO four-star commits on the spot

Like a lot of things in football, it all happened very quickly for Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College prospect Melvin Williams. The 6-foot-0 200-pounder had been being actively recruited by Clemson, Oklahoma State and others but hadn't heard anything from a favorite of his, North Carolina. When that communication finally came, Williams didn't need any time to think things over.

"I committed to North Carolina last night," Williams said. "I talked to the whole defensive staff. I talked to coach Butch Davis. I talked to Charlie Williams. I talked to everyone. They called me and offered me last night and I committed on the spot.

Williams had plenty of positive things to say about his future home but the first thing on his mind was the coaching staff.

"The biggest thing that sparked my decision was there's like four coaches that coached in the NFL," he said. "They had a number one recruiting class last year too so you know they're doing nothing but getting better."

The four-star prospect originally out of Lebanon, Tenn. also was thrilled to be a part of the academic atmosphere at North Carolina.

"The other thing that definitely was huge was the academics," he said. "A degree from North Carolina is like a degree from Harvard."

Though he hasn't been on campus this season, Williams has an idea of what to expect.

"I've been to Chapel Hill before and it was beautiful," he said. "I just hadn't been there during a football weekend but I went for a basketball game and it was great."

Williams also spoke with the coaches about where he fit in on the Tar Heel defense.

"They told me that I would fit in as a boundary corner," he said. "A boundary corner is someone that is physical and can support the run. Then again, I can play both positions of corner and safety so I would just go where I could find more success.

"That was something I liked to hear bigtime," said Williams who plays safety for his junior college program. "I am a physical player and one of my best things is supporting the run. I was originally recruited as a corner so it's no biggie for me to switch."

Williams had nothing but smiles about his decision to play in Chapel Hill but he got one extra incentive after he made his commitment.

"It was funny because they called me and they asked, 'do you want to be a Tar Heel?' and I was thinking, 'maybe I do,'" he said. "Then after I committed I found out that our running back Nate Guillory was committing too. That makes me feel comfortable knowing that I'll be going there with someone I know."

Williams also thinks that North Carolina may not be done dipping into the JUCO scene.

"I was always interested [in North Carolina]," he said. "Coach told me that North Carolina was interested in me and I didn't know if they got the final decision if they could offer junior college players or not yet. I guess they got the decision that they could offer four junior college players. I don't know who the other two are but I know two of them."