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College Football

Recruiter John Blake Plays Critical Role for UNC

By Sam Rosenthal

Sep 20, 2007

One of Butch Davis’ former biology students is a major force behind North Carolina’s stellar recruiting class and the primary reason why the nation’s No. 1 defensive recruit committed to UNC.

John Blake, UNC’s recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach, has known Davis for years. Blake played running back and fullback at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, Okla., where Davis was both his position coach and his biology teacher.

Davis went on to become a household name, and Blake became a behind-the-scenes secret to success. The last time the pair coached together – on Jimmy Johnson’s staff – the Dallas Cowboys won a Super Bowl.

Davis called Blake for assistance before he even took the job at UNC. After all, much of the 2000 NCAA champion Oklahoma Sooners’ starting lineup was Blake’s handiwork, and Rivals.com named him a finalist for National Recruiter of the Year for his role in Nebraska’s top five 2005 recruiting class.

Davis arrived in Chapel Hill to find a program in need of reconstructive surgery. That they could not start recruiting until John Bunting finished his tenure as coach only made matters worse.

But the Tar Heels enjoyed their greatest national signing day success in years. Rivals.com ranked UNC’s recruiting class – with 12 three-star, four four-star and two five-star recruits – No. 17 in the country.

“I’ve been coaching defensive line all my life, and I can recognize talent right away,” Blake said.

One of those four-star recruits was defensive tackle Tydreke Powell, a highly regarded prospect from Hertford County. Powell who made sure to look into Blake’s background.

He learned that Blake played and coached under Barry Switzer, first at Oklahoma and later with the Dallas Cowboys. Blake stayed on in Dallas after Johnson and Davis left. On those Cowboy teams, Blake coached five Pro Bowl defensive linemen, including Leon Lett and Charles Haley. Blake has also worked with Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins and Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts.

Blake struggled during his only head coaching stint – at his alma mater, Oklahoma – but has excelled as an assistant. His recruiting classes have won NCAA titles, and his defensive lines have been among the best in the nation.

"I did my research on Coach Blake,” Powell said. “It can’t get any better.”

Before hearing Blake’s sales pitch, Powell was leaning toward Virginia Tech. Powell reconsidered after talking to the man he called “the best technique coach in the world, hands-down.”

Defensive lineman Marvin Austin chose UNC over Florida State, Tennessee and Southern California – schools that usually steal recruits away from North Carolina like more eligible bachelors. Austin, the No. 1 defensive recruit in the nation, committed to a team coming off a 3-9 season.

Why?

“Coach Blake, basically,” Austin said. “His personality, the way he carried himself. He didn’t negatively recruit. He always told me what he had to offer as a coach and what they were trying to build here at North Carolina. … Coach Blake is the reason I’m here.”

More than anything, Austin’s commitment illustrates Blake’s ideology – strong personal relationships matter.

“It’s tough when you’re recruiting high-profile athletes because it’s all about relationships,” Blake said.

According to Blake, college recruiters scout players early in high school, and critical relationships take years to develop. Blake said that he and the rest of Davis’ staff lost precious time before Bunting’s termination. “We’re still a year behind in the evaluation process, but we’ll catch up,” Blake said.

Austin said his coach “brings charisma, he brings personality, he brings a sense of a father figure to a lot of the guys.”

Austin said that Blake – and Davis’ staff overall – promote a national championship attitude. “We’re here to do nothing less,” he said.

To rebuild North Carolina, Davis needed someone behind-the-scenes to help him find great players. He called on John Blake, his old biology student.

They have come a long way.

Now, they have a long way to go.