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North Carolina HC Bill Belichick extends latest pair of offers to top 2026 prospects

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•about 14 hours•

HunterShelton_

Immanuel Iheanacho copy 1.jpg

Offers are beginning to pile up from Bill Belichick and the new staff at North Carolina.

The new-look Tar Heels are full-throttle on the recruiting trail. On Thursday, two top recruits in the 2026 cycle announced offers from the program in Chapel Hill: Baltimore Georgetown Prep Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho and IMG Academy (Fla.) four-star safety Zech Fort.

Belichick and assistant Cory Giddings were in Maryland and visited Iheanacho at his school. The 6-foot-6.5, 350-pounder is the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Iheanacho is beginning to work through the thick of his recruitment. After visiting Texas A&M last weekend, he’s now eyeing trips to Georgia or Florida, as well as Auburn and Oklahoma across the next few weeks. The likes of Oregon and Penn State have stuck out to him thus far, too.

“The SEC and Big Ten are the best in the nation,” Iheanacho told On3’s Steve Wiltfong after visiting A&M. “You can’t compare much to SEC football. I’m trying to make sure I take all these things into perspective.”

As for Fort, the blue-chip defensive back named his top six schools over the weekend, tabbing Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame and Ohio State. He told On3’s Chad Simmons that a decision could come in February.

“I am getting close. I have seen enough, so I do not have to take anymore visits to make my decision. If I get back out, that is great, but I have seen all the schools on my list at least once already and I have good relationships with the coaching staff,” said Fort, the No. 101 overall recruit and No. 11 safety in the cycle.

Belichick already recruiting hard for North Carolina

While UNC is a tad behind some of the other programs that have long been recruiting players like Iheanacho and Fort, the appeal of playing under Belichick is catching plenty of attention.

Huntersville (N.C.) William Amos Hough top-50 cornerback Samari Matthews was recently visited by Belichick, and the addition of the legendary NFL head coach has the Tar Heels thoroughly in the mix for his pledge:

“They were already high on my list, but of course, since he is there, my interest is way higher now,” Matthews told On3. “The impact he brings is definitely serious and I’m excited to watch Carolina grow.”

Charlotte Providence Day three-star quarterback Zaid Lott is the lone commit in UNC’s 2026 class, as of Jan. 16. Belichick is working hard to change that as the spring approaches.