North Carolina and N.C. State added to their football recruiting classes Thursday, with each reaching deep into the South.
North Carolina received commitments from offensive lineman Caleb Peterson (6-foot-4, 285) from Auburn (Ala.) High School, and safety Clinton Heaven (6-0, 195) from Bradenton, Fla., and Manatee High. They are the second and third recruits for Larry Fedora, who became North Carolina's coach Dec. 9.
N.C. State added defensive end Kenderius Whitehead (6-5, 220) from Lithonia, Ga., and Martin Luther King High.
The Tar Heels now have 17 known commitments, and the Wolfpack have 22.
Peterson had committed to Fedora's program at Southern Mississippi, where his older brother, Taylor, plays. Coach Tim Carter of Auburn said that Peterson decided about 10 days ago to re-open his recruiting.
Familiarity with Fedora and offensive-line coach Chris Kapilovic when they were at Southern Mississippi helped Peterson decide to switch, and Fedora visited Peterson on Wednesday.
"I think the relationship with Coach Kap was really strong with the family," Carter said. "I think the staff being at North Carolina just changed the whole landscape of his recruitment."
Carter said that Peterson had more than 20 scholarship offers, with Alabama, Auburn, Stanford, Clemson and Georgia Tech among those interested.
Peterson was ranked as the No. 16 senior in Alabama in SuperPrep magazine's preseason rankings and was a starter for two seasons. He has 5.2-second speed in the 40.
Carter said that Peterson might be able to play any of the five interior-line positions but that he seems best suited for guard or center.
Heaven committed after a home visit from Fedora on Tuesday. He had at least 14 offers, including offers from Clemson, Michigan State, Ohio State, West Virginia, N.C. State, South Carolina, Illinois, Mississippi and Vanderbilt. Coach Joe Kinnan of Manatee couldn't be reached Thursday.
Whitehead, ranked No. 38 in Georgia by SuperPrep, also considered Clemson and Georgia. He played only one season at Martin Luther King after transferring and was second on the team with 114 tackles. He also had 19 sacks and 21 tackles for losses.
Whitehead immediately broke into coach Michael Carson's starting lineup and helped the team to a 12-1 record and the third round of the Class 5-A playoffs.
He has 4.6-second speed in the 40.
"I guess if we were putting out orders for players, he's definitely somebody we would have had on that order list," Carson said. "He was definitely what we were looking for, in terms of being a leader primarily."
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