Jalen Dalton to UNC: Tar Heels Land 4-Star DE Prospect

The University of North Carolina received a major boost for the class of 2015 by getting a commitment from defensive end Jalen Dalton. It shouldn't take long for the edge-rusher to make an impact for the Tar Heels once he arrives on campus.

InsideCarolina provided word of the lineman's decision:

The West Forsyth High School product is a prototypical pass-rushing prospect. He has good size at 6'5'' and 235 pounds. He combines that frame with an impressive amount of athleticism for a player of his size and very good short-area quickness.

As a result, he's rated as a 4-star prospect that ranks No. 66 nationally, based on 247Sports' composite rankings. He's also considered the sixth-best defensive ends available in the class and the No. 2 prospect from the state of North Carolina.

Dalton will look to follow in the footsteps of elite UNC pass rushers like Julius Peppers and Robert Quinn.

Given the need for players who can put pressure on the quarterback, players like Dalton carry a high level of intrigue. He's going to need to further develop his moves off the edge and add more power, but the raw tools are off the charts.

Chad Simmons of Scout provided a positive evaluation:

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When you see Dalton, you see a big athlete who can run on the football field. He has excellent range on the edge of the line and he can the size to contain. He needs to get stronger, play with more physicality, and improve against the run. He is a pass rusher who can chase the ball down. He covers a lot of ground quickly and can be on the quarterback before he completes his drop. His blurs passing lanes too with his length.

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Many players in his position may have waited for more offers to pour in before making a choice. He still had opportunities to impress and there's a strong chance further development would have led to more interested programs.

That type of battle for his commitment wasn't something he was interested in, though. He told Mason Linker of the Winston-Salem Journal that being the center of attention and getting constant contact from various coaching staffs didn't suit him.

"I probably get [at] least a call or a text a day," he said. "If I don't recognize the number, I won't pick up, and I don't answer all the texts. I don't really like the attention like that. I like to keep quiet."

Now that he's made a decision it's something he won't have to worry about as much.

Looking ahead, there's a good chance he will be able to break the defensive line rotation as a freshman, but he'll have to earn it. Even if he does, his true impact likely won't be felt for at least a season as he gets acclimated to the college game.

If everything goes according to plan he should be a force off the edge by the time he enters his junior campaign. By then he should have the technique and move set to match his athletic ability, which will be a scary thought for opposing quarterbacks.