Five-star OT Zach Rice commits to North Carolina

With options like the defending national-champion Alabama Crimson Tide, as well as the Ohio State University Buckeyes among his options, five-star high school football recruit Zach Rice went in a different direction on Thursday night, committing to the University of North Carolina Tar Heels program.

According to The Athletic, Rice is the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect in the country per 247Sports' Composite Rating. He is the second five-star prospect to commit to head coach's Mack Brown's Tar Heels in the 2022 cycle, joining defensive tackle Travis Shaw. Rice attends Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg, Virginia and chose UNC over Alabama, Ohio State, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Virginia.

The Tar Heels' 2022 recruiting class is now ranked 10th in the nation following the commitment from Rice, who is the No. 9-ranked prospect, and Shaw, who is No. 4.

If Rice and Shaw remain committed and sign on with the program, they'll be the third and fourth five-star recruits to join the Tar Heels since Brown rejoined UNC for his second stint in 2019.