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UNC football's 2026 recruiting one of country's best according to ESPN
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- UNC football's 2026 recruiting one of country's best according to ESPN
The North Carolina Tar Heels are building a strong foundation for the future of their football program, which we can thank new head coach Bill Belichick for.
When UNC moved on from Mack Brown after another disappointing finish in 2024, many wondered if the next head coach would come from within or outside the Carolina Family. North Carolina made the massive splash to hire Belichick, who – despite winning eight Super Bowls between his time with the New York Giants and New England Patriots – will be a first-time college coach.
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The Tar Heels already have their 2025 recruiting class locked down, headlined by a pair of 4-stars in quarterback Bryce Baker and edge rusher Chinedu Onyeagoro.
Looking ahead UNC also has one of the top 2026 recruiting classes – ranked 13th in the entirecountry, according to ESPN.
North Carolina has one ESPN 300 commit, Trashawn Ruffin (#271), who is its top defensive recruit. ESPN tabs running back Crew Davis as the Tar Heels' top offensive recruit.
"Unsurprisingly given his ethos, Bill Belichick is building North Carolina's 2026 class from the inside out," ESPN's Craig Haubert wrote. "In-state four-star defensive tackle Ruffin flipped from Texas A&M – and the 300-pounder has plenty of raw physicality to mold. Ruffin is one of several interior linemen in the class right now – and Belichick went to his former home base in Massachusetts to bring in 335-pound guard Lenneil Hall. The Tar Heels also pulled a pair of three-star corners out of California – in Justin Lewis and Marcellous Ryan. High three-star athlete O'Mari Johnson further bolsters that unit, as he also projects to the secondary."
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"Now, North Carolina is beginning to layer in skill players such as three-star receiver Darrion Kirksey, who picked the Tar Heels over offers from Ole Miss and Arkansas – and has outstanding short-area quickness," Haubert continued. "Davis can be a versatile back with the power to run between the tackles, but he also possesses good ball skills. As a junior, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and also hauled in more than 50 receptions."
The future is bright in Chapel Hill, even long before Belichick coaches his first game on the sidelines. If UNC exceeds expectations during its 2025 season , expect more recruits to commit and sign.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football's 2026 recruiting class ranked 13th overall by ESPN
