Skip to main content
Join

2026 CB Marcellous Ryan commits to North Carolina Tar Heels

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by:Keegan Pope•about 12 hours•

bykeeganpope

Marcellous Ryan

Bill Belichick and the North Carolina football program are on the board in 2026.

On Sunday, the new Tar Heels head coach landed his second high school commitment since taking over last month. That addition comes from the west coast, where Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra three-star 2026 cornerback Marcellous Ryan announced his pledge.

Ryan joins 2025 EDGE Chinedu Onyeagoro as the lone two prep commitments thus far for Belichick.

The 6-foot, 150-pounder is the No. 467 overall prospect in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the nation’s No. 34 cornerback and No. 47 player in the state of California.

As a junior this fall, Ryan notched 47 total tackles, including 4 TFLs, as well as a sack, three quarterback hurries and three interceptions. He also nabbed a fumble recovery while leading Junipero Serra to an 8-4 regular season and a CIF Southern-Section quarterfinal appearance.

He is North Carolina’s second 2026 pledge, joining three-star quarterback Zaid Lott, who committed in June to the Tar Heels’ previous staff.

Tar Heels rebuilding in the transfer portal

While Belichick and his growing coaching staff are trying to add future contributors like Ryan, they’re also heavily prioritizing players in the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Since taking over more than a month ago, the new UNC regime has landed 18 transfer commitments, among the highest of any Power 4 program. The Tar Heels’ class currently ranks No. 33 in On3’s Team Transfer Portal Index. The ranking utilizes the On3 (P)erformance score to measure a team’s production during the transfer process, compared relative against its roster and not a comparison against other schools. This proprietary algorithm determines if a school has improved its overall team talent, stayed the same, or declined in talent during the transfer window.

The offensive line in particular has been a huge focus, with additions like offensive tackles Daniel King (Troy) and William Boone (Prairie View A&M), as well interior linemen Chad Lindberg (Rice), Miles McVay (Alabama), and Christo Kelly (Holy Cross).

King was one of the top players left in the portal when he committed earlier this week, and Carolina also landed a major piece in the defensive secondary with cornerback Thaddeus Dixon, a top-100 overall player in the portal.