Defensive Tackle Kendall High Commits to UNC

Kendall High, a senior defensive lineman from West Rowan High School, is an ardent admirer of North Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound High could be a candidate to replace Peppers next fall after making a verbal commitment Nov. 25 to play for the Tar Heels.

“I’m always watching him, especially his pass-rushing moves and stuff like that,’’ High said of Peppers. “I try to come up with creative moves to help me after watching him. I look up to him like a role model. He’s a pretty good one.”

West Rowan coach Scott Young said it’s unfair to compare High to Peppers at this stage. But Young admitted that High has made some Peppers-like plays at the prep level.

“When we played Mooresville this year he was pressuring the quarterback and hit his arm,” Young said. “The ball shoots up and Kendall picks it out of midair and goes 52 yards for a touchdown … he sure did look a lot like Julius on that play.”

South Carolina was the first school to offer High after he attended the Gamecocks’ summer camp. But the Tar Heels came through with an offer in writing to snare High’s commitment.

“The reason I went ahead and committed (to UNC) was because I had it (offer) in writing and I hadn’t heard from South Carolina in a while,” High said. “This was a great opportunity, so I took it.”

East Carolina and Maryland were also recruiting High, and I-AA’s N.C. A&T and Catawba offered scholarships as well.

High was a part-time starter at West Rowan as a sophomore, then became a full-time regular the last two seasons. He racked up 82 tackles, seven quarterback sacks and 15 quarterback hurries as a senior. High also returned an interception for a touchdown, blocked a punt for a touchdown and blocked a punt for a safety.