4/18/2016 football Edit

Gill Likes Plenty About The Tar Heels

Xach Gill (94) doesn't have a list of schools yet, but UNC is certainly prominently on his radar.

Andrew Jones • TarHeelIllustrated

Publisher

Andrew Jones has covered sports for 26 years, including all major college & professional sports for daily newspapers & national sites. He's done radio and TV & is entering his seventh year at THI.

CHARLOTTE – There are expectations for Xach Gill to live up to at Wake Forest High School.

Before him, top-level talents such as Bryce Love (Stanford) and Dexter Lawrence (Clemson) have taken the program to a very high level, bringing with it a great deal of attention. Next in line for the North Carolina school is Gill to step into such high-profile shoes, and he’s okay with it.

The 4-star defensive tackle previously served as apprentice under Lawrence, but next fall he will be the unit’s anchor. He’s ready for that role.

“It’s a challenge, but I’m ready for any challenge that comes my way,” Gill told THI on Sunday at the Rivals Camp Series. “I’m just working as hard as I can and be a team player.”

Gill is quit competitive. He viewed the one-day camp at Mallard Creek High School as an opportunity to compete against the region’s top players but also learn from a different staff.

“Anything that can give me a little edge, all types of coaching can do that,” he said.

Gill, who is 6-5, 270 pounds, and rated the No. 15 player at his position nationally and No. 8 overall prospect in North Carolina, isn’t revealing a list if he has one. UNC, however, is “up there,” he said.

What is it about the Carolina program Gill likes?

“I like that they’re a close knit family and I like how they are building up their players,” said Gill, who was last in Chapel Hill the night the basketball Tar Heels lost at home to Duke.

Gill also likes the Gene Chizik factor. He recognizes the strides the Heels’ defense made in last fall’s 11-3 campaign, and he sees the direction the program is headed, including the defensive side of the ball.

“(Chizik) knows what he’s doing and he’ll place me where I need to be at,” Gill said.

Wake is located just north of Raleigh, so Gill is about 35 minutes from Chapel Hill. He’s also been offered by Miami, Penn State and Virginia Tech, to name a few, so how much does staying close to home matter?

“It’s a factor,” he replied, “but my family, wherever I go they’re coming with me.”