Just after one month after CanadaFootballChat.com reported the possibility that #CFC100 CLASS 2016 top ranked Patrice Rene may be shopping around for a new home, today comes word that he has joined another NCAA team.
TheΒ 6β1, 190 pound defensive back from Ottawa, Ontario has officially announced on Twitter that he has verbally committed to NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team, University of North Carolina Tar Heels:
I am excited to announce that I will be a student athlete at The University of North Carolina!#IamATarHeel #GoHeels? pic.twitter.com/hh9P7NPQoU
β DeuceUno (@PatriceRene21) January 20, 2016
While he did not officially indicated that he is withdrawing his previous commitment to NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, there was speculation he was shopping around for a new home.
The reason for this possible change of heart is due to the recent firing of Scarlet Knights Head Coach Kyle Flood.
The defensive back will not be signing his Letter of Intent (LOI) until NCAA Signing Day early next month.
Back on August 8th, Rene ended a recruitment process which extended 25 and a half months by initially announcing his verbal commitment to the Scarlett Knights.
“Rutgers was the only school that came out to Canada and Ottawa to watch me play,” said Rene at the time of his commitment toΒ Β TSNβs Matthew Skube in an interview.
It concluded a lengthy process which netted him 28 NCAA offers including one from the Tar Heeks.Β Β It began back on June 26, 2013 when the CFC reportedΒ that the Ontario standout received his first offer from Akron Zips.
It was only the beginning for Rene. During the over two year process, he racked up 28 NCAA offers including ones from Rice Owls, Wisconsin Badgers, Syracuse Orange, Oklahoma Sooners, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Virginia Tech Hokies, Virginia Cavaliers, Vanderbilt Commodores, Tennessee Volunteers, Temple Owls, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Northwestern Wildcats, Penn State Nittany Lions, Kentucky Wildcats, Indiana Hoosiers, Duke Blue Devils, Boston College Eagles, Minnesota Gophers and Mississippi State Bulldogs.
This past fall, Rene completed his career south of the border for Episcopal Maroon in Alexandra, Virginia. Β Previous to the Maroon, Rene has suited up for the St. Peter Knights of the National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association (NCSSAA) and Orleans Bengals of the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA). He trains at Gridiron Academy with Tedondo.
This year, Rene became the third consecutive Ottawa area prospect to grab the top spot in theΒ #CFC100 CLASS 2016Β RANKINGSΒ joining Β 2014 CFC #1 pivot Michael OβConnorΒ andΒ 2015 CFC #1 defensive end Neville GallimoreΒ in this elite group.
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