How impactful will UNC’s latest football additions be on the field?
It’s truly amazing the amount of gravitational pull Bill Belichick has on football players. The North Carolina Tar Heels have numerous holes to address on their roster, but Belichick is landing commitments from guys left and right.
No commitment is more impactful than South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez, whom UNC paid a hefty NIL sum to be its starting quarterback in 2025. North Carolina revamped its entire defensive line – minus a couple reserves – while beefing up its offensive line.
The transfer portal is now closed, but players still in the portal can announce their destinations. It’s not just portal recruits Belichick is landing, but also those from future high school recruiting classes.
On Wednesday, the Tar Heels landed commitments from Florida Gators defensive back Gregory Smith III and Class of 2026 tight end Cooper McCutchan.
Smith, who played just five games as a freshman in 2024, should have a sizable role in UNC’s deep secondary. McCutchan will enter his senior season at Archbishop Moeller High in Cincinnati, Ohio this fall, then head to Chapel Hill in 2026.
Smith recorded five tackles and a pass breakup during Florida’s 8-5 campaign in 2024, which ended in a 33-8 victory over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl.
McCutchan, who visited North Carolina in March, gave InsideCarolina’s Don Callahan his initial thoughts about the program after that visit.
“[The visit and offer] absolutely impacts my recruiting and my thoughts about UNC,” McCutchan told Inside Carolina following the visit. “I definitely can see myself playing in this system, with these coaches at UNC. I loved meeting with Coach Belichick and Coach Kitchens and getting to see the campus for the first time. Both coaches talked about the importance of the tight ends and the major role they…
Source link : https://tarheelswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/tarheels/football/2025/05/07/unc-football-recruiting-gregory-smith-cooper-mccutchan-florida-gators-transfer-portal-2026/83504526007/
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Publish date : 2025-05-08 01:58:00
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