Sherrone Moore and Michigan Wolverines are 'trending down' in fight against Bill Belichick's Tar Heels for top 2026 recruit

Currently in the top 10 overall for 2026 recruiting rankings, as 21 players have submitted a verbal commitment, the Michigan Wolverines are doing well for themselves. A bevy of four-star blue chippers will define this class for Sherrone Moore and his staff, and he's hoping to add a couple more to his collection.

One of those is four-star linebacker Calvin Thomas. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder from Houston, Texas, is dripping with upside to be used as a hybrid off-ball linebacker. He's exactly the type of athlete who has surged after coming to Michigan for many years.

However, the Wolverines may not get good news in this race. Despite having the need for one more linebacker in the class to go with three-star Markel Dabney, Thomas is looking at Bill Belichick's presence in Chapel Hill as especially interesting.

On3 feels as though the race is coming down to North Carolina, Texas, and SMU. Michigan? Not as involved at this point.

"Michigan and Nebraska are trending down...Multiple sources with knowledge of this recruitment point to the Tar Heels as the team to beat. If a decision were made today, we like where they stand. There is an expectation that this decision could crystallize as early as Thursday."

Thomas visited Michigan in early June, following trips to SMU and North Carolina, and pre-dating travel to Nebraska and Texas. Now, it seems to be about whether the allure of playing for Belichick and enjoying the atmosphere at North Carolina is greater than leaving Texas.

And the Wolverines might have to move on. Despite the program's success in producing NFL talent and developing athletes on the defensive side of the ball, Thomas appears drawn to other things.

"North Carolina has garnered the most buzz over the past week and change. Confidence in Chapel Hill continues to mount about the Tar Heels’ chances with Thomas, who raved about his time with Bill Belichick to Rivals: “I definitely loved the scenery there and the academics,” he said in May. “Michael Jordan went there. It’s a great school.”

We'll update you with more information as Thomas makes his announcement later this week.