Photo credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
WATCH: Future UNC Football Rusher Puts Powerful Burst on Full Display
Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Fla.) four-star Davion Gause is a 2024 UNC football prize who verbally committed to the Tar Heels in early March over the likes of Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. He ranks No. 333 overall, No. 48 in talent-rich Florida, and No. 27 among running backs on the 247Sports 2024 Composite.
But Gause must have sights on soaring significantly higher in the rankings soon. That much was evident on Saturday by the stats and highlights that the 5-foot-11, 215-pound slick bruiser produced in his team's ESPN-televised season-opening 35-14 win over St. Frances Academy (Md.) at the Broward County National Football Showcase.
Gause finished with a game-high 182 yards on the ground on only 18 carries (10.1 yards per carry). And he twice found an extra gear for statement-making touchdown runs.
His first time finding paydirt, ultimately tying the score at 14-14 late in the third quarter, exhibited his shiftiness in traffic and sufficient breakaway acceleration after spotting the open lane and turning the corner:
The second to-the-house dash came midway through the fourth quarter to give Chaminade-Madonna a two-touchdown lead at 28-14. It was courtesy of his simple yet oh-so-explosive burst right up the middle, going virtually untouched before crossing the goal line 57 yards later:
It's undeniable that Davion Gause, one of the UNC football staff's earliest commits in the 2024 cycle, has the potential to be a star in the backfield for the Tar Heels. And given his top-tier strength for his position and class, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him earn some playing time as only a true freshman in Chapel Hill next year.
UNC football's 2024 recruiting haul ranks No. 25 in the country, per 247Sports, with 26 pledges in tow.
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Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more UNC football recruiting news.
