North Carolina football’s Bill Belichick loses 2026 QB commit
North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick is facing some challenging news as the Tar Heels lose a 2026 quarterback commit, according to On3. Quarterback Zaid Lott has decided to decommit from the school.
Lott, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, had initially committed to the Tar Heels in June 2024, during Mack Brown’s tenure as head coach.
“After careful consideration, I’ve made the decision to step away from my commitment to the University of North Carolina,” Lott stated. “This was a difficult decision, but I feel it’s the right one for my future. I appreciate the support and understanding from everyone involved, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.”
Lott, a three-star recruit, is expected to attract interest from several programs. He had previous offers from schools including Charlotte, Florida State, Boston College, and North Carolina State.
Lott is the first recruit to decommit from North Carolina. Despite this setback, Belichick has found success in the transfer portal and by flipping recruits from other programs. Recently, the Tar Heels secured a commitment from defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin, who had previously committed to Texas A&M.
Bill Belichick is hoping to find success with North Carolina football
Bill Belichick shocked the football world by deciding against taking an NFL job this offseason. Instead, the legendary Super Bowl-winning coach opted to make the jump to the college ranks.
Under Mack Brown, North Carolina has enjoyed success in recent years, including producing a first-round NFL Draft pick in quarterback Drake Maye, who ironically now plays for the New England Patriots, Belichick’s former team.
The reasons behind Lott’s decommitment from North Carolina remain unclear, as he had stayed committed even after the coaching change. Several other recruits, however, chose to decommit following the announcement that Brown would no longer be the head coach.
Currently, North Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class is ranked 25th by 247 Sports, with eight commits. Trashawn Ruffin is the only four-star player committed so far, though several four-star recruits are still considering the Tar Heels.
Many analysts expect North Carolina to immediately contend for an ACC championship under Belichick, despite tough competition from teams like Clemson, SMU (who made the College Football Playoff last season), and a rebuilding Florida State.
The Belichick era at North Carolina is set to begin in September, with the Tar Heels taking on TCU in a non-conference game to start the season.