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Bill Belichick's UNC Depth Chart, 2025 Recruiting Class Ranking After HC Contract

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIDecember 11, 2024

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: NFL analyst Bill Belichick looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

UNC is hiring Bill Belichick to be its next head coach, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet

🚨 🚨 🚨 <br><br>Former <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Patriots?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Patriots</a> coach Bill Belichick, the greatest coach of all time, will become the next coach at the University of North Carolina, sources say. The deal is done. <br><br>From Super Bowls to college football. Just like Bill Walsh. Just like Deion Sanders. Now, Belichick. <a href="https://t.co/OtY4Ekbqgv">pic.twitter.com/OtY4Ekbqgv</a>

Belichick takes over a UNC team that's gone 6-6 (3-5 in ACC) in 2024 with the Fenway Bowl against UConn remaining. The Tar Heels previously announced that this would be head coach Mack Brown's final season. Interim coach Freddie Kitchens will lead UNC in its final 2024 contest, which will take place on Dec. 28.

Belichick, who won two Super Bowls as the New York Giants' defensive coordinator before adding six more Lombardi Trophies as the New England Patriots' head coach, has a lot of work to do.

UNC is last (17th) in the ACC in 247Sports' listing of class of 2025 recruits. Of course, it's not uncommon whatsoever for less-heralded recruits to shine in college, but Belichick will likely hit the recruiting trail and transfer portal pretty hard.

He does have talent to work with, of course. The 2025 group is led by an exciting talent in 4-star quarterback Bryce Baker, the 13th-ranked player at his position in his class. He is one of two hard commits, with 3-star edge-rusher Austin Alexander being the other one.

The 2024 UNC depth chart is available here via Tar Heel Times.

Obviously, there's plenty of work to be done on the 2025 UNC roster, but here's a look at what a two-deep depth chart could potentially look like next season (at the moment), removing departing players (either due to an exhaustion of eligibility or the transfer portal) and adding some recruits.


Quarterback: Freshman Bryce Baker, TBD

Running Back: Senior Omarion Hampton, Sophomore Davion Gause

Wide Receiver: Sophomore Paul Billups, Sophomore Jordan Shipp

Wide Receiver: Junior Kobe Paysour, Freshman Javarius Green

Wide Receiver: Freshman Christian Hamilton, Sophomore Chris Culliver

Tight End: Sophomore Jake Johnson

Left Tackle: TBD

Left Guard: Senior Malik McGowan, Freshman Trey Blue

Center: TBD

Right Guard: Sophomore Zach Rice, Freshman Byron Nelson

Right Tackle: Junior Trevyon Green, Sophomore Jani Norwood


Defense

End: Junior Beau Atkinson, Freshman Austin Alexander

Nose: Sophomore Joel Starlings, TBD

Tackle: Sophomore Rodney Lora

Rush: Sophomore Tyler Thompson, Sophomore Jaybron Harvey

Linebacker (Mike): Sophomore Ashton Woods, Junior Michael Short

Linebacker (Will): Sophomore Caleb LaVallee, Junior Cade Law

Cornerback: Senior Marcus Allen, Senior Tyrane Stewart

Free Safety: Senior DeAndre Boykins, Freshman Javion Butts

Strong Safety: Senior Will Hardy, Sophomore Malcolm Ziglar

Cornerback: Sophomore Ty Adams, Sophomore Zion Ferguson

Star: Junior Kaleb Cost, Sophomore Tre Miller


Special Teams

Kicker: Junior Liam Boyd, Sophomore Lucas Osada

Punter: Senior Tom Maginness, Sophomore Lucas Osada


Belichick is a defensive coach, so he'll be a good fit on a team that needs its most work on that side of the ball. UNC finished 91st in Division I FBS in scoring defense last year, including allowing 70 points against James Madison.

The Tar Heels also notably finished 3-5 in conference despite facing a weaker conference schedule in which they avoided 8-0 SMU, 7-1 Clemson and 6-2 Miami, the league's top three teams.

So Belichick arrives in Chapel Hill with much to address, but he has one of the best coaching resumes in sports history and can certainly turn this team around.