Last week, the Tar Heels put their 2025 class in the books as 17 commits signed with the program, joining the other 10 players that signed early with the program. That means that the attention has turned to the 2026 class where the team has landed six commitments already and are looking to add more. Here is a look at our top 20 most wanted prospects for the 2026 class.
1. 4✮ DL Aiden Harris- Weddington (Weddington, NC)
The Tar Heels are in need of some talent at the defensive tackle spot despite the additions that the team made last week and why not have it be one of the best in the class that resides right here in the home state. Harris brings the physical edge and burst off the line of scrimmage that the team is wanting in the middle of their defense and his ability to get after the quarterback is outstanding for an interior defensive lineman. You also have to love the motor and speed that he plays with. This should be priority number one for this Tar Heel staff in this class, especially since it is an in-state prospect.
2. 4✮ EDGE Jake Kreul- IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
Bill Belichick and his staff are wanting to recruit IMG Academy hard and their first major target from the school should be Kruel. The team is going to be searching for talent at the edge rusher position again this offseason and this is a great starting spot because of how sudden and physical he is at the line of scrimmage. He combines that suddenness with great speed off the edge which makes it almost impossible for opposing tackles to stay in front of him. This should be a top target for this staff.
3. 5✮ QB Faizon Brandon- Grimsley (Greensboro, NC)
This is the only target that is committed elsewhere on this list, but he is frankly too talented to not be on here. Brandon has effortless arm strength and combines that with beautiful touch and accuracy at all three levels which all starts with the strong footwork that he brings to the table. He also has the ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his feet, making him one of the most complete quarterbacks in the 2026 class. The Tar Heel staff needs to stay on him because even though he says he is locked in with Tennessee, that can change at any time.
4. 4✮ DL Noah Clark- C.E. Jordan (Durham, NC)
Clark is another in-state defensive tackle that the team should have very high on this staff’s board. The team needs a gap eater who can stop the run and that is exactly what he brings to the table. He has some incredibly powerful hands which allow him to separate from blockers as does the violent streak that he plays with. This needs to be one of the main focuses for this staff in this cycle.
5. 4✮ OT Pierre Dean- West Forsyth (Clemmons, NC)
This is another position of need for the team and Dean is the best of the bunch. He is an outstanding run blocker who piles up pancakes despite not being the biggest offensive lineman. While his run blocking might produce the most highlight reel plays, he is also a very strong pass protector thanks to his good lateral movement. His versatility as both a left and right tackle only adds to his value and means he should be a main focus for new offensive line coach Will Friend.
6. 4✮ WR Walker Bryson- Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Rabun Gap, GA)
No one fits the Belichick binoculars meme more than Bryson in this class, but he would be an outstanding addition in the slot for this group. First and foremost, he does a great job of creating separation with some very strong route running ability and he combines it with his incredibly reliable hands that make him a favorite for quarterbacks, especially on key downs. Once he has the football in his hands, though, that’s where the real magic starts. He uses some good speed and incredible shiftiness to make defenders miss in the open field, turning minimal gains into explosive plays. Landing his brother in the portal should certainly help the cause, but this should still be the guy that the staff is pushing the hardest for at the wide receiver position.
7. 5✮ QB Jared Curtis- Nashville Christian School (Nashville, TN)
Curtis is another quarterback that should be near the top of the board for this staff. He is scheduled to take his first visit to Chapel Hill in April and it’s hard not to be excited about the possibility of him being the next quarterback in line after Bryce Baker. He has tremendous arm strength and accuracy and shines when he has to throw off-platform. He is also a threat with his legs when he runs, having run for at least 500 yards in each of the past two seasons. This would be an amazing consolation prize if they can’t convince Brandon to flip.
8. 4✮ RB Deshonne Redeaux- Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA)
The Tar Heels already have one running back committed to the 2026 class, but Redeaux is too talented to pass up on. His speed and acceleration would be a game changer in this backfield, as would his ability to make defenders miss in the open field. Not only is he able to do that with his ability to stop and start, but he has a nice edge that he runs with as well. This is the next guy from California that the team should be hoping to get on board.
9. 4✮ S Cortez Redding- Jonesboro (Jonesboro, GA)
The safety spot has been a position of need for a while in Chapel Hill and this cycle will be no different. While Redding is a versatile piece that can play slot corner, he has all of the tools needed to play the deep safety role that the team is looking for more depth at. He has outstanding burst that allows him to break on the ball and make plays on the football and he does a great job of providing help over the top when needed. When he is put in 1-on-1 situations, though, he can more than hold his own, something that allows the defense to be more aggressive in terms of bringing pressure on critical down. This should be the top target for the team at the safety spot.
10. 4✮ OT Carter Scruggs- Loudoun County (Leesburg, VA)
To round out the top ten, we go back to the offensive line to a true mauler in the form of Scruggs. He is absolutely dominant in the run because of the mean streak that he plays with, which allows him to overpower most defensive ends and pile up pancake blocks. He combines that run blocking ability with really strong footwork and strong lateral movement that make him a good pass protector as well. This should be another top priority for Will Friend.
11. 5✮ TE Kendre Harrison- Reidsville (Reidsville, NC)
Harrison is one of the top dual sport athletes in the 2026 class and has the chance to be a special tight end. He is an outstanding athlete for a tight end his size, but that size pays off when it comes to winning the 50/50 balls that are thrown his way. He shines the most with the football in his hands, though, because of his ability to run through tackles. While he is a tremendous receiver that makes plays after the catch, he’s also a very strong blocker which is going to be important to the pro-style system the team is going to run. This should be one of the team’s top priorities, especially at tight end.
12. 4✮ DL Keshawn Stancil- Clayton (Clayton, NC)
We go back to the defensive line here with another outstanding in-state prospect. Stancil is another player that has a nice initial burst off the line of scrimmage that makes him difficult to keep from getting into the backfield. He plays with a lot of physicality, which is needed from guys that are going to thrive on the interior of the defensive line and allows him to shed blocks consistently and create negative plays. This should be a name high on the team’s board along the defensive front.
13. 4✮ IOL Leo Delaney- Providence Day School (Charlotte, NC)
Delaney has the versatility to play either tackle or guard and should be fairly high on this list for that reason. His footwork and lateral movement are as good as anyone on this list and makes him a great fit for what this staff is needing. While he has all the tools necessary to be a good pass protector, especially at guard, he also packs a punch in the run game and is constantly able to finish those running downs with pancakes. Hopefully Will Friend is making a push to get back in this recruitment after the team was eliminated from contention under Mack Brown.
14. 3✮ EDGE Keysaun Eleazer- Southeast Raleigh (Raleigh, NC)
Eleazer might be a 3✮, but his tape shows he is much more than that. The thing that jumps off the page the most is the speed that he possesses off the edge which makes it incredibly difficult to stay in front of him. He makes it even more difficult with the physicality that he brings to the table which is why he is able to rack up so many tackles for loss and sacks. While he is definitely aggressive, he is a smart player who has the capability of dropping into coverage, something that whoever his future defensive coordinator is will love. He combines all of these attributes with a high motor which was a staple of the group that the Tar Heels brought in late in the 2025 class. This should be another priority target amongst the group of edge rushers the team could be after.
15. UR CB Jalen Williams- Kell (Marietta, GA)
The cornerback position isn’t nearly as much of a need after the team landed Marcellous Ryan and Justin Lewis, but Williams has to be on this list somewhere. He provides a lot of versatility considering he can play anywhere from corner to nickelback to safety and he has the ball skills to play any of those positions. His speed allows him to make plays in both man and zone coverage and also means he can lay the lumber when he makes tackles. This should be one of the primary focuses for Armond Hawkins with Ryan and Lewis already in tow.
16. 3✮ WR Gordon Sellars- Providence Day School (Charlotte, NC)
Sellars is a guy that the previous staff was hard after and he appears to be one of the top guys on Belichick and wide receiver coach Garrick McGee’s board. It makes sense considering how often he can win downfield and create explosive plays and how good he is at creating big plays after the catch. He has extremely reliable hands, as well, and makes the difficult catches look easy. This would be a perfect in-state addition for this staff in this class.
17. 4✮ LB Malik Morris- Lakeland (Lakeland, FL)
Morris is the first linebacker on this list and he is one that new coach Bob Diaco should love. He is an athletic linebacker that moves really well and can take away the short passing lanes in coverage. His speed and burst are eye opening and allow him to make a lot of plays from sideline-to-sideline. When he get to ball carrier, he is going to make them pay with just how hard he hits. Linebacker isn’t the biggest need for the team this coming cycle, but Morris is one that the team should be considering.
18. 4✮ TE JC Anderson- Mt. Zion (Mt. Zion, IL)
Anderson has already set his official visit to Chapel Hill and it’s no shock that the Tar Heels are high on him. He is an athletic player that can climb the ladder and win the 50/50 balls, making him a major redzone and 3rd down threat. He is another offensive target that shines after the catch, turning short gains into big plays. He might not be as strong of a blocker as Harrison is, but he is more than serviceable, something that couldn’t be said for a lot of the Tar Heels tight ends coming out of high school. Hopefully, the staff can seal the deal this summer with him.
19. 4✮ DL Andrew Harris- Weddington (Weddington, NC)
The second Harris brother also has to make an appearance on this list and should be another top priority along the defensive front. Like his brother, he has tremendous burst off the line of scrimmage that makes him hard to stay in front of and he brings the physicality that you want from an interior defensive lineman. He also has a high motor that allows him to run down plays from behind, something that this staff values in their players. Landing his commitment is a big deal in itself and could make it easier to land the top player on this list.
20. UR WR Dionte Neal- Reidsville (Reidsville, NC)
Neal might be further down on this list, but he is as explosive as any player in this class. His speed and acceleration are top-notch and make him almost impossible to catch in the open field. Add to that his ability to how smoothly he is able to make defenders miss and he is a nightmare for opposing defenses. Figuring out where to play him is going to be important, but as long as he has the football in his hands, he will be able to make something happen. The hope is that the staff values him as much as we do.
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