Top N.C. lineman sees three schools

One of the top offensive line prospects in the Mid-Atlantic region, Concord (N.C.) Robinson tackle R.J. Mattes, made three unofficial visits during this weekend for Junior Days at North Carolina, North Carolina State and South Carolina.

The 6-foot-7, 260-pounder was impressed with his Sunday afternoon trip to Chapel Hill.

"I went up there not expecting much," Mattes said. "But sitting down and meeting with coach Sam Pittman and coach Butch Davis changed my mind about North Carolina. Pittman is a real good coach to hang out with. I talked to him about football the whole time.

"He talked about my tape and said I am good at pass blocking and said that I finish blocks well."

Davis also left an impression.

"I went into his office and talked with him for about five minutes and then at halftime (of the North Carolina-Duke basketball game) we got to go into the gym and he sat and talked with me for about 15-20 minutes. He told me that he wanted to see me in Tar Heel blue."

Mattes added that the unofficial visit vaulted North Carolina into his early "top three or four."

Earlier on Sunday, Mattes visited N.C. State.

"I talked to coach Jim Bridge my recruiting coach and got to speak in private to (head coach) Tom O'Brien."

Mattes' father, former NFL offensive lineman Ron Mattes, has some history with O'Brien.

"(O'Brien) was the offensive line coach at Virginia when my dad played there," he said. "It was the first time I have ever met him, but my dad knew him already."

He also was impressed with the facilities at N.C. State.

"It's been a while since I've been up there, but they have a lot of really nice facilities. I was impressed with the stadium additions."

On Saturday, Mattes made the drive down I-77 to Columbia to check out the Gamecocks.

"Basically I didn't know anything about South Carolina," he said. "I went down and checked out their facilities and got to meet Steve Spurrier. He said a lot of good things about me. I also met the offensive line coach John Hunt and he said a lot of good things. He said he was going to watch my tape and get back in touch with me very soon about an offer."

Mattes has interest in South Carolina.

"They are the first SEC school to get on me," he said. "The SEC I'm sure beats any college football conference in the nation."

Mattes also has interest from Virginia, where his father played, Duke, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Clemson and others.