Since arriving at Chapel Hill in December 2024, Bill Belichick had gone straight on the recruiting trail. But it was different this time. Convincing 18-year-olds and their parents, worried about their kids’ future, was a gigantic task. They’re currently 15th in the nation in 2026’s recruiting class with 36 incoming players. But one player has changed his commitment, and with UNC’s current trajectory, the road has become steeper.

Before the dead period began, Bill Belichick found his new commit in three-star offensive lineman Mason Wilhelm. His goal? “To play with an edge,” he said to SI. But following five losses and just one conference win, the glossy promises of UNC’s Belichick era lost their shine. Although the Tar Heels won against Syracuse last weekend, with four back-to-back losses,

See Full Page