The second part of what is a year-round college football season is in full gear. Coaching staffs around the country are busy luring prospects into picking their schools as "National Signing Day" nears.

One of the more interesting scenarios nationally is occurring right here in Chapel Hill, because the distinct possibility exists that UNC will not have the kind of recruiting year that it could have expected, considering all the obstacles it had to overcome to win eight games and return to a bowl game.

This is Carolina coach Butch Davis' fourth year of recruiting, and Davis has recruited well to date, deepening the Tar Heel talent pool since taking the job in November of 2006. Signing Day has not quite arrived, yet, so it is too early to make a call one way or the other. Prospects can sign binding letters-of-intent on Feb. 3. Until then, commitments are just words.

But we can say this: One of UNC's areas of great need has received help in the form of highly prized offensive linemen James Hurst and T.J. Leifheit; both graduated early from high school and enrolled at UNC earlier this month. That allows those student-athletes to participate in spring practice, strengthening the possibility they could contribute in the fall.

Defensive back D.J. Bunn, who spent a semester at Hargrave Military Academy getting his grades up to par, also matriculated, as did tight end Sean Fitzpatrick of New York.

But UNC has other areas of need that have yet to receive oral commitments, much less actual enrollments.

Carolina suffered a big loss when running back Jamal Womble left school because of academics. Womble was one of the finest-looking running back prospects at Carolina since Natrone Means helped turn Mack Brown's program around in the early 1990s.

With A.J.Blue suffering a severe knee injury in one of his few carries at running back last season, Carolina will now be dependent on seniors this year: Ryan Houston, Shuan Draughn, Anthony Elzy and James White. The need to sign help at running back is critical.

Carolina played host to Giovanni Bernard of Florida this past weekend. One of the top prospects in the country, Bernard had originally chosen Notre Dame, but when Coach Charlie Weis was fired in South Bend, Bernard decided to look around.

Notre Dame's new coach does not run the kind of offense in which Bernard said he wants to play. UNC does.

His brother attended Oregon State, so the Beavers could be the top competition for Bernard

Carolina needs to try to sign at least two runners, if possible.

The other area of need is defensive tackle. Marvin Austin will be a senior this fall. Cam Thomas was a senior this past season. Aleric Mullins decided to try the National Football League rather than return for his senior year.

So, all of the defensive depth, which played such a vital role for Davis and his staff being able to turn Carolina back into a winner, is about to vanish.

Carolina did catch a break when defensive tackle Brandon Willis of South Carolina chose to enroll at UNC earlier this month rather than Tennessee. That switch came when head coach Lane Kiffin left Knoxville after just one season to take the top coaching job at Southern California.

That could be a tremendous help for UNC football in the long run, particularly given that Willis has enrolled early and will be here for spring practice.

UNC also has former Chapel Hill High School defensive tackle Jared McAdoo, who sat out the 2009 season as a redshirt.

McAdoo drew high praise from the veterans at last summer's workouts, and should move into the rotation this fall. But Carolina needs to sign at least one more defensive tackle.

Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, they lost two players who had been at Hargrave and were set to enroll. Offensive lineman Johnnie Farms had some off-field troubles, and the UNC coaching staff said "no" to him.

And running back Jerrell Rhodes of Durham was supposed to enroll after attending Hargrave, but he apparently was unable to get the required academic work done sufficiently. The UNC coaching staff helped him find a spot at Memphis.

Recruiting will be all-out between now and signing day. Then we'll know if the Tar Heels were able to fill some big needs.

- chn -