Never Any Doubt

CHAPEL HILL – Brian Anderson knew where he wanted to go to college the moment he was offered a scholarship by North Carolina. He wanted to be a Tar Heel.

But the UNC staff, with his recruitment led by offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic, the man Anderson will learn the most from when he gets to school, wanted the Montgomery, AL, native to check out other schools and find out what others have to offer. The Carolina staff wanted Anderson to be sure that when he committed he was all in and avoid the possibility the 3-star offensive lineman might flip to another school down the road.

Anderson checked out other schools and communication with some impressive major programs picked up, but in the end, Chapel Hill is where Anderson’s heart was. And on Saturday night at the conclusion of the annual Freak Show, Anderson’s heart made it official, as he committed to Larry Fedora and the Tar Heels.

“I’ve had Carolina at the top of my list, and it definitely feels like home,” Anderson told THI moments after committing.

Among the inner core in the program, Anderson’s commitment didn’t come as much of a surprise. Most had a strong idea he would commit Saturday, and collectively a decision was made that if he was going to pop for the Heels to wait until right after the Freak Show.

There is something to say about the one time a prospect gets to stand at midfield with his future head coach with many eyes and media watching, taking in a special moment for someone who still has another year before graduating from high school.

“It’s surreal to know that if I could pick any school in the country, I’d still pick North Carolina,” he said when asked about the moment with Fedora at midfield. “To be able to have that free and paid for, that’s really a great thing for me to be able to do. And I’m proud just to be able to say I’m going to attend the school of my choice.”

Based on the reaction of some of the previously committed future Tar Heels, Anderson’s decision was a popular one with that impressive contingent. Most of the eight committed members of the class of 2017 were on hand Saturday night, and they didn’t hide their excitement when Anderson and Fedora embraced.

The chemistry on the 2018-21 Tar Heels is already being woven together.

“I’ve really gotten close, especially, with Ryan Jones, Jonah Melton, Jake Lawler, a couple of other ones I’m still getting to know,” Anderson said. “I’ve really grown close to them. As soon as I got the offer they reached out to me and we started talking a bunch.

“So, it’s something where we’ve grown a lot closer and I can see myself playing with them and getting to know them. They’re just the right people I like to hang myself around. They’re just really good company and people I can see myself with the next few years.”

Among the many agreeable attributes of Anderson’s that appeals to UNC staff, was his recent ascent and the manner he handled that growth.

Just last November, Anderson was trying to figure out how he could get a bio on Rivals.com, something that still hadn’t happened by the time he first visited Chapel Hill for the Tar Heels’ 66-31 rout of Duke on Nov. 7.

With his visit to UNC and the Carolina staff clearly showing interest, the wheels got in motion and before long Anderson had that bio. Other Power 5 programs were showing interest, too. He had offers from some FCS and mid-to-low level FBS programs, such as Nevada and Toledo being on the high end.

But as time passed, and as Anderson showed what he could do on the field to UNC and other schools, offers from bigger programs came in. Cincinnati, Indiana, Syracuse, Wake Forest and Vanderbilt, as examples, offered. Clemson, Georgia Tech, Missouri and others showed increasing interest.

UNC’s offer in mid-May changed everything. And 34 days later, Anderson can call Kapilovic “coach” because he is his coach.

“It’s a great feeling,” Anderson said. “He’s a great offensive line coach and I trust him with anything he tells me to do.”

The 6-3, 271-pounder says he’s adaptable and can play anywhere on the line. But don’t be surprised to see him end up at center.

As for enrolling, Montgomery Catholic’s system isn’t set up for students to graduate early, so Anderson will graduate next May and enroll in summer school to formally begin his career as a Tar Heel.

And when he does, what a culmination of events, going from not having a Rivals bio to seven months later committing to UNC, and a year later donning the Carolina blue.

That’s Brian Anderson’s story.