Darian Durant is also pretty tough.

The Florence (S.C.) Wilson senior completed 172-of-292 passes for 2,349 yards and 25 touchdowns this season, great numbers for any high school quarterback. When you consider that Durant posted his numbers in only seven games after coming back from a broken leg, the statistics are even more impressive.

The 6-foot-1, 217-pounder is rated the No. 17 quarterback in the nation by SuperPrep recruiting magazine and chose the Tar Heels over South Carolina. Durant also received scholarship offers from Clemson, East Carolina, N.C. State, Georgia Tech and Michigan State.

He is the second prep quarterback to pledge his allegiance to the Tar Heels, joining Durham (N.C.) Riverside's Aaron Leak (formerly Aaron Alston).

South Carolina Prep Football rated Durant the No. 3 prospect in the Palmetto State and he was a member of the Charlotte Observer's S.C. Top 25 team. The Orlando Sentinel also selected Durant as one of the top quarterback prospects in the Southeast.

You won't get an argument out of Florence Wilson head coach Darryl Page, who thinks his star quarterback is well prepared for the next level.

"Outside of his athletic ability I would say his intelligence is a major strength," said Page. "He's been our quarterback since he was 14 years old. A lot of people don't realize that. He's only 17.

"For a high school I think we run a pretty sophisticated offense. He has seen a lot of four wide (receivers) and three receivers with a lot of motion. To be honest, as good a passer as he is, I think he's better when the pocket breaks down. He can do a lot of things."

Durant's physical abilities aren't limited to agility and quickness. He bench presses 350 pounds and can squat 500 -- not bad for a quarterback.

The 1999 All-State selection registered 7,241 passing yards and 69 touchdown passes over the past three seasons. He did not play in the Shrine Bowl, but was selected to participate in the annual South Carolina North-South All-Star Game in Myrtle Beach.

Durant, who runs a 4.55 in the 40, responded with a 9-of-11 passing effort for 215 yards and a 46-yard score.

He is the second South Carolina prospect to choose the Tar Heels, joining 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive lineman Jonas Seawright of Orangeburg. North Carolina now has 16 known verbal commitments with nine days remaining until Feb. 2, 2000, the date prospects can make their pledges binding.

NOTES: With signing day rapidly approaching, North Carolina remains in the hunt for several major prospects. MickeyPlyler.com reported Sunday that Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland quarterback Brandon Sumner (6-4, 200) had no leader between Georgia Tech and the Tar Heels and would make his decision following a Jan. 28 trip to East Lansing, Mich.

Arguably the Sunshine State's top prospect, Pahokee (Fla.) linebacker Eric Moore, is also strongly considering the Tar Heels along with Florida State, Tennessee and Miami. He is schedule to visit Miami on Jan. 28 before making a decision.

Running back Brandon Russell of Atlanta (Ga.) Marist and safety O.J. Owens of New London (N.C.) North Stanly will also make their college decisions soon. Russell is considering North Carolina, Stanford and Notre Dame while Owens is mulling offers from UNC, Tennessee, Florida State and East Carolina.

The Tar Heels may also land another defensive line prospect following Apopka (Fla.) High star Ron Jon-Finn's visit to Chapel Hill Jan. 28. The 6-4, 245-pounder earned All-Central Florida honors from the Orlando Sentinel and was said to be one of the fastest rising prospects in the area by the newspaper.

He registered 74 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and eight pressures this season for the Darts, and is considering North Carolina along with South Carolina and Kansas State.

A commitment from Jon-Finn would add to an outstanding group of defensive line recruits that includes Larry Jessup of Miami (Fla.) Country Day, Seawright, Clarence Gaddy of Bunnlevel (N.C.) Western Harnett, Jermicus Banks of Raleigh Millbrook and Isaac Montgomery of Princeton (WVa.) High.

Recruits begin signing binding letters of intent Feb. 2
Reprint from Goheels.com