UNC head coach Bill Belichick’s first foray into college recruiting pays dividends
Bill Belichick spent a lot of time in the air, on the ground, and around high school football players and their coaches in the month of January. It was a new experience for the legendary NFL coach, being North Carolina’s new football coach and jumping into recruiting 18-year-olds.
Belichick was often spotted on social media posts in a coat and tie, a different kind of attire than many college coaches when making their recruiting visits.
Belichick also had a different kind of pitch: Come join a college program at UNC modeled after those in the NFL, with a coach who could, if he wanted, show off his eight Super Bowl rings.
Belichick and the makings of his new UNC staff, which includes general manager Michael Lombardi, also were able to entice an influx of recruits to join the Tar Heels on Wednesday on the National Signing Day.
UNC had 11 recruits in the class of 2025 sign their letters of intent in the early signing period in December, headed by four-star quarterback Bryce Baker of East Forsyth High. The Tar Heels then added 17 prep signings Wednesday, and added two transfers, the school announced.
Also among the signees Wednesday were 4-star quarterback Au’Tori Newkirk of Norfolk, Virginia, and 4-star edge rusher Chinedu Onyeagoro from Los Angeles.
Newkirk, who announced his decision Wednesday during a press conference at Maury High, told the media in Norfolk that he picked UNC to play for Belichick, calling him the “greatest coach in the world” and saying he was “starstruck” when he first met the former New England Patriots coach.
Newkirk led Maury to a 15-0 season in 2024 and a second consecutive Virginia Class-5 championship, passing for 3,800 yards and 50 touchdowns.
The Tar Heels had quarterbacks Jacolby Criswell, Conner Harrell and Michael Merdinger all enter the transfer portal after Mack Brown’s last season as coach. Baker and Newkirk join Purdue transfer quarterback Ryan Browne and incoming freshman Gary Merrill.
The Tar Heels had some recruits flip their commitments to UNC on Wednesday.
Defensive lineman Trey Giddens of Virginia Beach, Va., listed at 6-3 and 275 pounds, was thought to be headed to Navy, but signed with UNC.
“It’s the path to the NFL,” Giddens told 247Sports.
The Heels also pulled in another defensive lineman in Yasir Smith of Summerville, S.C. who appeared headed to East Carolina before signing with UNC. Smith has an older brother, Yannick, who is a receiver for the Pirates.
The two transfers announced Wednesday by UNC were offensive lineman Daniel King from Troy, and kicker Jaffer Murphy from Lake Erie.
Overall, the Tar Heels’ class of 2025 was ranked No. 32 nationally by 247Sports and its recruiting class No. 43.
This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM.
