"I'm excited for Ronnie and Melik," said North Carolina head coach John
Bunting. "This is a great opportunity for them to adjust to college life
and get to know our players and staff. Melik signed with us out of high
school and then completed his course work at Hargrave Military Academy last
season. He's worked tremendously hard to become a student-athlete at UNC.
"Ronnie played a variety of positions in high school. He has the power,
speed and instincts to become a great college tailback. I think it is a
tremendous benefit for both players to enroll early."
Brown had four sacks, 31 tackles and returned two fumble recoveries for
touchdowns last season at Hargrave, even though he missed two games with an
injury. He played both defensive end and center for Woodrow Wilson High
School in New Jersey, leading the team to a 12-0 record and its first ever
sectional state championship. As a senior, he made 57 tackles and had 10
sacks.
McGill rushed for 1,827 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior and also played
linebacker. He was named the MVP of the North-South All-Star Game in Myrtle
Beach, rushing for 119 yards and three touchdowns. A member of The
Charlotte Observer's All-Upper South Carolina Team, McGill returned a
kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in 2002, caught four touchdown passes and
threw a pair of scoring tosses. He helped lead Clover to its first regional
championship since 1977.
Both players will practice this spring with the Tar Heels when workouts
begin on March 18. The Spring Game in tentatively scheduled for April 12.