North Carolina Secures Commitment from 2017 Mississippi JUCO OL Kelby Wickline
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Tar Heels have made a big push on the recruiting trail to shore up their offensive line for years to come. On Monday North Carolina added their fifth verbal commit to the class when Kelby Wickline pledged.
By the time Wickline gets to Chapel Hill he will be a well-traveled football player. Wickline is originally from Morgantown, West Virginia, but played high school ball in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Out of high school he signed with Texas-San Antonio but headed to Jones County J.C. for his freshman season after redshirting with the Roadrunners.
Wickline’s work on the field in 2016 was rewarded by the MACJC earning first team All-Region honors at offensive tackle. The Bobcats rushed for an average of 238 yards per game with Wickline helping lead the charge. Teammate Scott Phillips also earned first team All-Region honors thanks to the big guys in the trenches. Jones County posted a 6-3 record this season.
North Carolina went up against some heavy hitting teams for Wickline’s commitment keeping him away from Kentucky, Arkansas State, Cal, Missouri (official visit), and Arkansas (official visit). Wickline posted his commitment on Twitter writing, “I’d like to announce my commitment to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Thanks to everyone who supported me. #TarHeels.”
The Tar Heels are getting a good one, and the son of a college coach. Kelby is the son of Joe Wickline, the current offensive coordinator for the West Virginia Mountaineers. Joe has coaching stops that includes Ole Miss, Baylor, Middle Tennessee State, Florida, Oklahoma State, and Texas.
247Sports ranks the Tar Heels class No. 23 in the nation, No. 4 in the ACC. Rivals rates the class No. 31 in the nation with four four-star recruits.
North Carolina 2017 Verbal Commitment List (16)
CB Traivon Leonard, 6-0, 188, Oxbridge Academy, West Palm Beach, FL
CB Tre Shaw, 6-0, 180, Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, GA
SS Caleb Rozar, 6-3, 192, Dickson County, Dickson, TN
LB Jeremiah Gemmel, 6-1.5, 208, East Coweta HS, Sharpsburg, GA
DE Jake Lawler, 6-3, 225, South Mecklenburg, Charlotte, NC
DT Jordon Riley, 6-6, 295, Riverside HS, Durham, NC
LB Malik Robinson, 6-0, 212, South Gwinnett HS, Snellville, GA
OG Brian Anderson, 6-3, 286, Montgomery Catholic, Montgomery, AL
OG Jonah Melton, 6-4, 290, Eastern Alamance, Mebane, NC
OG Kelby Wickline, 6-5, 276, Jones County J.C., Ellisville, MS
OT Marcus McKethan, 6-6, 328, Branwell HS, Barnwell, SC
OT Billy Ross, 6-5, 310, Huntington HS, Huntington, WV
RB Antwuan Branch, 5-11, 200, Kenwood HS, Clarksville, TN
RB Michael Carter, 5-8.5, 191, Navarre HS, Navarre, FL
WR J.T. Cauthen, 6-3, 207, Cuthbertson HS, Waxhaw, NC
WR Ryan Jones, 6-2, 200, Mallard Creek HS, Charlotte, NC
WR Tyler Smith, 6-0, 180, McEachern, Powder Springs, GA
Photo credit: twitter.com; Kelby Wickline at North Carolina.