UNC commit gets in-state offer
Offensive tacke Zack Handerson of Jacksonville (Fla.) Bertram Trail gave a verbal commitment to North Carolina on July 22, but recently received a new scholarship offer from an in-state school.
Florida offered Handerson the 6-foot-7, 265-pounder this week, but that's not going to change his mind about his commitment.
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"It's an honor to get an offer from a school like the University of Florida," Handerson said. "But North Carolina is the place for me. It is a top 10 university and I fit in with the coaching style up there, especially my position coach, (Tar Heels offensive line coach) Hal Hunter."
He went on to sing Hunter's praises.
"He's a teacher," he said. "He doesn't dog cuss his players for messing up. He figures if he can identify your mistakes, he can teach you the correct technique."
Handerson said that the Gators were late in offering him because they wanted to evaluate some of his senior film. He said that despite the offer, he will not set up a visit to Florida.
"I've been there and done that," he said. "I've seen Florida and it is a very good school, but it doesn't have what I want."
The nation's No. 41 offensive tackle prospect will visit Chapel Hill officially the weekend of Dec. 3. He was recruited by Tar Heels defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator Brad Lawing. He also had offers from Auburn, Vanderbilt