Sports
It’s not every day that a college football commitment ripples across three of the sport’s power programs and lands at a program undergoing a transformation under a legendary coach.
On Friday, North Carolina and Bill Belichick shook up the recruiting landscape, securing a pledge from three-star defensive lineman Viliami Moala, whose cross-country journey has already seen him flip from Lincoln Riley’s USC to Dan Lanning‘s Oregon, before finally choosing to play for the Tar Heels.
Moala, listed at 6-foot-2 and 340 pounds, has been one of the more intriguing prospects in the class of 2026, both for his physicality and the winding path that has defined his recruitment.
The No. 42 defensive lineman in his class according to Rivals, Moala’s commitment marks a major win for Belichick, who continues to reshape North Carolina’s reputation from perennial spoiler to genuine national contender.
For Tar Heel fans, the addition of Moala is not just about beefing up the defensive line; it is an endorsement of Belichick‘s vision for a new era in Chapel Hill.
Moala‘s high school career has mirrored his recruiting story in its unpredictability, with stops in Utah, Oregon, and most recently Alabama, where he will finish at Thompson High School.
His junior season at Bingham High in Utah turned heads across the country: 99 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and 35 quarterback hurries.
Belichick’s defensive blueprint sways Moala
Moala‘s recruitment reached its turning point after official visits to Oregon and North Carolina in June. In an interview with On3’s Don Callahan, Moala described his interaction with Belichick as pivotal.
“I had a great talk with Coach Belichick, and he had told me he had a great plan in what he was building there at UNC,” Moala explained. “And I want to be a part of that. I believe that UNC can be the best with the plan that they have.”
It is not just Moala’s size and motor that have Tar Heel supporters and analysts buzzing. Callahan, referencing Belichick’s NFL success, compared the newcomer to Vince Wilfork, the cornerstone nose tackle of Belichick’s Super Bowl-winning defenses in New England.
“Having an immovable-but-nimble nose tackle is important to all base 3-4 schemes, which Bill Belichick has famously favored. And, Wilfork was the best, and most gregarious, of Belichick‘s Pats tenure,” Callahan said.
UNC’s momentum on the recruiting trail goes beyond Moala. July brought commitments from linebacker Calvin Thomas, who chose the Tar Heels over Texas and Michigan, and defensive back Jakob Weatherspoon, who flipped from Ohio State.
Belichick‘s group now boasts 35 pledges for the 2026 cycle and ranks No. 16 in the nation according to Rivals, an impressive position for a program only just entering a new chapter under its Hall of Fame coach.
Moala‘s decision to join UNC comes at a time when the defensive line is more important than ever in college football’s evolving landscape.
If Belichick can turn Moala into the next Wilfork, it could be the foundation for a defense that carries the Tar Heels from dark horse to title contender.
As the 2026 class begins to take shape, the rest of the ACC, and the nation, will be watching to see if Belichick‘s NFL pedigree really can build a powerhouse in Chapel Hill.
This news was originally published on this post .
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