Bill Belichick’s arrival as head coach is doing wonders for UNC’s recruiting classes.
We’re not even a full day into August yet, but the North Carolina Tar Heels are making quite the impact on their football recruiting trail.
On Friday afternoon, UNC made a massive splash in its 2026 recruiting class, flipping 4-star tight end Carson Sneed from Tennessee. Sneed wasn’t North Carolina’s only major addition to open the new month, though.
Also on Friday, the Tar Heels landed a commitment from 3-star defensive lineman Viliami Moala. Previously committed to the Oregon Ducks, Moala visited UNC back in June.
According to his 247Sports recruiting profile, Moala is the 21st-ranked player in Alabama – and 71st-ranked defensive lineman overall.
If Moala’s size alone is any indication of his effectiveness (6’2″, 340 lbs.), Moala is a disrupter in the trenches. Moala proved his effectiveness during his 2024 junior season at South Jordan (Utah) Bingham High School: 99 tackles, 35 quarterback hurries, 22 TFLs, 12.5 sacks and two pass breakups.
Moala’s commitment now gives North Carolina 36 commitments in their 2026 class, which is ranked Top-20 nationally by ESPN.
The Tar Heels will carry a new-look, experienced defensive line into their highly-anticipated 2025 campaign, which starts September 1 against TCU. Penn State transfer Smith Vilbert and UConn transfer Pryce Yates will line up on the edge, with Florida transfer D’Antre Robinson and East Carolina transfer CJ Mims projected to start at defensive tackle.
When Moala arrives next season, he’ll join what’s shaping out to be a deep unit in the trenches. Defensive line was a strength for UNC in 2024, which recorded 41 sacks, second-most in the ACC and sixth nationally.
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Source link : https://tarheelswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/tarheels/football/2025/08/01/unc-football-2026-recruiting-class-villami-moala/85483030007/
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Publish date : 2025-08-01 22:53:00
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