Bill Belichick, North Carolina lose intriguing tight end recruit

The start of the Bill Belichick era was supposed to bring a ton of hope to the North Carolina Tar Heels' football program, but this 2025 season has underwhelmed. That's to say it nicely, as well.

UNC is 4-6, and Belichick has dealt with off-field drama surrounding his much younger girlfriend. That's very un-Belichick-like, but it has been a story this season. There's also the fact that not even halfway through, there were already rumbles about Belichick looking at a buyout.

Perhaps North Carolina hiring a 73-year-old coach who has never coached or recruited in college football before was a bad idea, especially in the NIL and transfer portal era.

There's still time to wait and see, but the Tar Heels have lost a player in their 2026 recruiting class. 

Aveon Williams is a three-star athlete from Casa Grande, Arizona, who had been committed to North Carolina since June. He announced his decommitment from the Tar Heels on Thursday, though.

“This journey has taught me a lot, and I’m grateful for every step. Thank you to the University of North Carolina, the coaching staff, and everyone who believed in me. After careful consideration, I have decided to decommit and reopen my recruitment,” Williams wrote on X. “Wishing the program nothing but success moving forward. Sometimes you have to close one door to open another. I’m excited for the next chapter and the opportunities ahead.“