4-Star LB Proctor Has Carolina Connection

Nathan Proctor had a connection to North Carolina’s football program for nearly a year before he even knew it.

A 4-star linebacker from Indian Head, MD, a Washington, D.C., suburb, Proctor works out once a week in Northern Virginia at a training center owned by former Tar Heel and NFL linebacker Eddie Mason.

Mason played for the Tar Heels from 1991-94 and then spent six seasons in the NFL, his last for with the Washington Redskins. Mason opened Mase Training after retiring from the NFL, and now one of his weekly projects is the 6-3, 210-pound Proctor.

“He is great to train with,” Proctor told THI about Mason. “Great teacher and he doesn't take it easy on me there. No mistakes or half effort will be accepted and that's what I like. He is really pushing me and the other guys to be great. Gave me the nickname Wolverine.”

Proctor started training at MASE last spring but discontinued during his football season. He was back as a regular a few weeks after his Lackey High School season concluded.

So almost a whole year and he never knew Mason was a Tar Heel.

“I just found out from Coach (John) Papuchis that he played at North Carolina,” Proctor said.

Proctor prefers Mason’s approach. A cerebral young man, respectful and one who adheres to discipline, he likes being pushed to where new supposed limits surface over and over. It’s a dedication that has essentially become a way of life for the 17-year-old.

“I am always thinking about how I can improve my game and working towards being the best,” he said.

Proctor was originally slated to be in Chapel Hill over the weekend for junior day and to take in the basketball team’s rout of Miami, but he was unable to attend. He is adamant, however, that he will be at one of UNC’s spring football practices and hopes he can make it to one if Carolina’s summer day camps.

While UNC wants to get Proctor back on campus – he visited for the Duke game in November and loved everything about the visit other than he didn’t get a chance to walk around Franklin Street – the line of communication is so open that nothing was really lost by his not making the visit this past weekend.

“I deal with Coach Papuchis often maybe 2-3 times a week,” Proctor said. “He's pretty cool. I spoke with him and Coach (Larry) Fedora on National Signing Day which was pretty cool.”

Proctor says time is flying and that singing day will come faster than it would seem right now. But with offers from schools such as Florida, Georgia, California, Miami, Penn State, Missouri, Maryland and, yes, UNC, he’s still in no rush to choose a school or even identify a pecking order.

“I'm still in the information gathering stage right now,” he said.

But when he does, Carolina could be in the mix. UNC winning the Coastal Division and 11 games impressed Proctor, but he wants to see more improvement this fall.

Proctor's junior highlights on Hudl.