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UNC Football: Bill Belichick Knocking on Top 10's Door in 2026 Cycle

The UNC football headline hire just continues to prove stellar as a college recruiter.
Matt Giles|
UNC football head coach Bill Belichick and UNC basketball legend Roy Williams
UNC football head coach Bill Belichick and UNC basketball legend Roy Williams | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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North Carolina Tar Heels

First-year UNC football head coach Bill Belichick and his now-undeniably more-than-capable recruiting team enjoyed the program's 14th win on the 2026 trail via Wednesday's commitment from Archbishop Moeller High School (Ohio) standout junior tight end Cooper McCutchan.

ALSO READ: UNC Secures Top Available Talent in Transfer Portal

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound three-star prospect, who racked up over 30 Division I offers while climbing to his current standing at No. 865 overall and No. 43 among tight ends on the 247Sports 2026 Composite, became UNC's first reported 2026 prize across the first week of May following five quality additions to the Tar Heel class throughout April.

McCutchan's announcement leaves Belichick's Tar Heels just outside the top 10 in the 2026 cycle, per 247Sports. At No. 11 overall, the first-class UNC football class now stacks up third in the ACC, sitting below No. 5 Clemson and No. 10 Syracuse.

Add in the fact that UNC has also been busy overcoming its late reboot on the 2025 recruiting trail and required scramble in the portal when the now-73-year-old Belichick arrived in December without a full staff in place. Five months later, the Tar Heels boast a No. 28 composite ranking between their 2025 recruiting and transfer successes, and their portal haul alone ranks No. 9 in the country.

Moreover, just the one 2027 UNC football commit to date, Junipero Serra (Calif.) three-star athlete Skylar Robinson, gives the Tar Heels the No. 20-ranked collection in the extremely early going of that cycle.

It's safe to say the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach isn't having much issue building his first UNC football roster and beyond.

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC football news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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