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Take Two: Can North Carolina or NC State land Desmond Evans?

CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

Desmond Evans
Desmond Evans (Rivals.com)
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Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling an issue in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and an expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites or a regional analyst.

MORE TAKE TWO: Will Oklahoma pull Blayne Toll out of Arkansas? | Should Buckeyes be concerned about Paris Johnson Jr.?


THE STORYLINE 

Desmond Evans recently released his top 10, and there were not many surprises on the list as the four-star defensive end and No. 1 prospect in the state of North Carolina works through his recruitment.

North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio State, Alabama, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, NC State, Florida, Clemson and Duke made the cut for the Sanford (N.C.) Lee County standout, but the feeling is the North Carolina schools have the best shot at landing him.

When everything gets boiled down, Evans could be picking between North Carolina and NC State as the two in-state schools continue to wage battle for the state’s top player, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound superstar who could shine in either system.

NC State has had success recently along the defensive line, with Bradley Chubb and others. North Carolina has not had as much recent success, but first-year coach Mack Brown is recruiting like he did in the the old days at Texas and he has the Tar Heels at No. 10 in the team recruiting rankings.

Is Evans leaning a certain way? Will either North Carolina or NC State land his pledge?

FIRST TAKE: ADAM FRIEDMAN, MID-ATLANTIC RECRUITING ANALYST  

“No real surprises in his top 10. Florida has been a school Evans has always been intrigued by and the staff has some connections to the state of North Carolina. That would be the only one that’s kind of a stretch, considering how many times he’s visited these other schools. He remains in talks with Alabama, Ohio State and even Clemson, and Tennessee, too. He remains in touch with all those coaches.

“But this is still an NC State-UNC battle, and I think he would probably end up at UNC if he had to commit today. We still have time before that happens. It would be huge for Mack Brown to land this guy. The Tar Heels are already loaded at the defensive line position and adding him would be a game-changer as a speed rusher and someone with huge potential. This is a guy you can really build around on that defensive side of the ball because he is such a game-changer.”

SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, NATIONAL RECRUITING DIRECTOR  

“The defensive line production at NC State has been impressive. They’re going to sell Chubb’s success and his versatility at the next level. All of that is on the plus side for NC State and they’re more of a winning program right now.

“The way North Carolina is recruiting, though, there are a lot of kids and coaches in the state who are buying into Mack Brown turning around that program. North Carolina has always been the favored program of a lot of kids growing up in the state. Even though they went 2-9 last year I wouldn’t be surprised if Brown pulls this one out. He’s recruiting like crazy, he has a good way about him, he’s got a good staff, so it wouldn’t shock me at all to see North Carolina get this kid.”

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH UNC FANS AT TARHEELILLUSTRATED.COM

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH NC STATE FANS AT THEWOLFPACKER.COM

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