Heel Tough Blog: 2026 3✮ DL Target Cuts List to Five, Sets Commitment Date

@D2ThaTaker- Twitter

The Tar Heels have hit the defensive line hard in the 2026 class and they are not done recruiting this crucial area of need. On Saturday evening, one of their top remaining targets at the position announced his top schools list and his commitment date.

As he revealed via his social media, 2026 3✮ DL Daryl Campbell is down to five schools and will announce his commitment on May 9th. The Tar Heels are one of the five remaining for him alongside Houston, SMU, Texas Tech and Vanderbilt. 

Campbell, the No. 580 overall prospect and No. 62 defensive lineman in the 2026 class according to 247Sports Composite Player Rankings, hails from Paetow High School in Katy, TX. In 2024, he finished with second team All-District honors for his performance which opened the door for his recruitment to take off.

Going into the decision, it feels like there are two schools that are standing out Campbell based on his social media interactions. The Tar Heels are one of those two, but it would seem like they are slightly trailing Vanderbilt, whom he visited unofficially last weekend for their spring game. If the Tar Heels could get another unofficial visit with him before the announcement, they might just be able to do enough to pull this out.