Bill Belichick’s transition to college football was always going to be a national storyline — but perhaps the bigger surprise is how fast he’s built a top-tier recruiting class at North Carolina.
Through June, the Tar Heels sit with the No. 16 ranked class in the country for 2026, according to 247Sports. They’ve already racked up 21 commitments, including Elite 11 quarterback Travis Burgess, a rising three-star prospect from Virginia who’s helped headline the group. It's a promising foundation for Belichick, who’s in his first full recruiting cycle and already proving his name still holds considerable weight among high school athletes.
However, not every high-profile name has bought into the Belichick rebuild.
Devin Fitzgerald — a three-star wide receiver from Brophy Prep in Phoenix and the son of Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald — was one of the most notable names to surface on UNC’s radar. But despite initially expressing interest and receiving an offer from the Tar Heels, Fitzgerald recently canceled his official visit to Chapel Hill.
According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Notre Dame is now projected to land Fitzgerald, a blow to Belichick’s staff as they aim to stockpile playmakers on the perimeter.
Fitzgerald, who stands at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, caught 52 passes for 720 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He’s drawn significant national attention with over two dozen offers — including ones from UCLA, Florida State, Arizona State, and Duke. He was originally scheduled to visit UCLA beginning June 12, but his shift in travel plans only reinforced the growing buzz around Notre Dame.
Belichick reportedly told Fitzgerald during their conversations that he would "push him every day to be the best,” using his NFL pedigree as a recruiting tool. Still, Fitzgerald appears to be headed elsewhere — and North Carolina now faces an uphill climb to reclaim ground in his recruitment.