The Tar Heels have been struggling a little bit in the home state so far, but the team has started to turn the corner in the last couple of weeks. On Tuesday they continued their momentum when they landed in the top eleven for one of the top in-state players in the class.
Per Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports, the Tar Heels remain in the hunt for 2026 4✮ EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes after he reset his recruitment back in late November. Prior to that, he was committed to UNC for two months while the team was still under the direction of Mack Brown.
Griffin-Haynes is was on campus earlier today, making him the first recruit in the 2026 class to take a second visit to campus since Belichick took over.
Griffin-Haynes just concluded his junior season at Rolesville High School in Rolesville, NC. He finished with 48 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 0.0 sacks, 20 quarterback hurries and one pass defensed for a Rolesville team that fell in the 4A state title game to Grimsley. In 2023, he was one of the state's best edge defenders, racking up 50 total tackles, 27.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 20 QB hurries and six pass breakups.
This would be a big piece to get back on board and it’s clear with how fast they got him on campus following Belichick’s hire that he is an important piece for this staff. Him being one of the main priorities for the staff bodes well for their chances, even though it is rare to see players recommit to a school they once decommited from. Right now, it feels like Carolina and Ohio State are still two teams that pace the way here.
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