Bill Belichick is not a large guy. The first-year head coach at North Carolina looks hilariously small while standing next to top college football recruits in the Class of 2026.
They are not even 18 years old!
Belichick inherited a program that finished 6-7 with a Fenway Bowl loss during its final season of the Mack Brown era. As the Tar Heels look ahead to the future under a new regime, they must first rebuild their roster. That even goes beyond this upcoming year.
College football coaches are slowly starting to turn their focus toward the recruiting Class of 2026 and Belichick is at a slight disadvantage. He was obviously unable to recruit prior to his hiring last month so he and UNC general manager Michael Lombardi are starting from scratch. Landing the best players in the state of North Carolina seems to be a big priority.
Monday marked Day 1 of the contact period so Belichick and his staff were on the road. They traveled approximately 150 miles around Chapel Hill to make stops in Garner, Durham and Rolesville.
The day began with a visit to four-star edge rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes at Rolesville High School, who is listed at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds. He towered over the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach, who is believed to be about 5-foot-11.
How we looking UNC Fans ?? @UNCFootball @BlaylockAndrew @RRACKLEY9 @RamsFootballNC #GDTBATH 🐏 pic.twitter.com/Zy9uuiMXRA
— Zavion Griffin-Haynes (@ZavionGH) January 6, 2025
Belichick later swung by South Garner High School to chat with Ekene Ogboko. The four-star offensive lineman is listed at 6-foot-6, 280 pounds.
It was an honor to host the legendary Coach Bill Belichick this morning. Thank you to @BlaylockAndrew and the entire @UNCFootball staff for making @SouthGarnerHS a priority on your recruiting trail. #TitanUp8228 @SouthGarnerAD @SouthGarnerFB @SGStrNSpeed @ThePrincipalFai pic.twitter.com/JECO7eoEVN
— Greg Greene (@_CoachGreene_) January 6, 2025
To close things out, Bill Belichick and his son Steve stopped at C.E. Jordan High School to visit with Noah Clark. It went extremely well.
He really wants to focus on developing players and building an elite program.
— Noah Clark, via Rivals
At 6-foot-3, 318 pounds, Clark is ranked as a four-star defensive lineman. Both Belichicks looked minuscule in his presence.
It was great meeting with @Belichick_B, Steve Belichick, and @BlaylockAndrew today.@UNCFootball @ACoachKing @jsc613@JordanFalconsFB pic.twitter.com/BINbvWMAx9
— Noah Clark (‘26) (@NoahClark_90) January 6, 2025
Bill Belichick is used to being smaller than his much younger players. Vince Wilfork was approximately 6-foot-2, 340 pounds. Matt Light was 6-foot-5, 305. Rob Gronkowski had seven inches on his head coach.
Even though it is nothing new, per say, college football takes things to another level!
Not only is Belichick still smaller than his players, they are much younger than he is accustomed in the NFL. He must also recruit 17- and 18-year-olds who are significantly bigger and at least 54 years younger. It is a brain-boggling visual!