Eugene

Asante

Asante gets an injury settlement from the Dolphins after being injured in the third preseason game. The undrafted free agent reportedly had a strong camp and was pushing to make the final 53 in Miami before the injury. He likely faces an uphill battle to crack an NFL roster this season.

Asante (6’0.5/223) falls prey to mental lapses at times, but his high-end speed and agility will make him a considerable special teams weapon in year one. His 1.52-second 10-yard split clocked at the NFL Scouting Combine ties for the positional high. If Asante (24 years old) can improve his decision-making, he can theoretically handle a three-down role, chasing ball carriers on early downs and serving as a part-time blitzer on passing downs. Among 56 Power Five linebackers with at least 100 blitzes over the last two seasons, Asante’s 30.4 percent quarterback pressure rate ranks No. 1 overall and his 14.7 percent pass-rush win rate ties for sixth.

After losing ZaKobey McClain and Chandler Wooten, adding Asante (6'0/220) to their linebacker room is big for the Tigers. The former three-star recruit in the 2019 class played in 37 games spanning three season for the Tar Heels where he accumulated 62 career tackles. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Asante is considered a four-star recruit in some circles. Either way, he’s a good player, and would be a big addition to the Seminoles’ class. He’s also schedule to make a visit to Virginia Tech, and will visit TCU before the signing day. Right now, he’s considered a strong favorite to end up at Virginia Tech.

The Bruins had actually expressed interest in the 6-foot-1, 212-pounder as a running back last offseason. No initial offer was forthcoming when he took an unofficial visit to the program in the spring, something which Asante said “fueled my method to my madness for my senior season.” They’ve since offered to him, as a linebacker. As for other schools angling for the Chantilly, Virginia, native, he has already taken an official visit to Virginia Tech and will be checking in with TCU in official capacity two weekends from now. On the 247Sports composite board, Asante ranks as the No. 31 prospect in the state of Virginia for the 2019 cycle.

Asante (6'1/212) was considering a number of programs beyond UNC, including Virginia Tech, Maryland, FSU and Nebraska. He makes for UNC’s most notable previously uncommitted landing on Wednesday. One interesting note with Asante: he does have upside at running back (UCLA was looking at him in that vein earlier in the cycle) should he struggle to find a fit outright in North Carolina’s defense. ESPN ranks Asante as the No. 292 overall prospect in the 2019 class.