When Bill Belichick was announced as the new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, many wondered how a 72-year old NFL coaching legend would handle his duties as a high school recruiter. There was a dead period in effect for most of Belichick’s first month in charge.
But on Monday, that was lifted, allowing coaches to visit prospects at their high schools. While many people assumed Belichick would leave the recruiting to his subordinates, he visited several high schools around the Tar Heel State. From photos and handshakes to scouting reports and life advice, CFN takes you behind the scenes of Bill Belichick’s first 48 hours on the recruiting trail.
‘Hell yeah, It Was Cool’ – Behind the Scenes of Bill Belichick’s First High School Recruiting Visits
On Monday, the first contact period of the calendar year began, allowing coaches to visit 2025 and 2026 prospects at their high schools.
Most of the time, assistant coaches will handle most of the off-campus recruiting visits, but every once in a while, a head coach will venture out. Bill Belichick was one of the head coaches that personally took to the recruiting trail, and he apparently came prepared.
On Monday, Belichick spent time in the talent-rich Raleigh-Durham area, visiting former North Carolina commit Zavion Griffin-Haynes and his Rolesville High School teammates.
How we looking UNC Fans ?? @UNCFootball @BlaylockAndrew @RRACKLEY9 @RamsFootballNC #GDTBATH 🐏 pic.twitter.com/Zy9uuiMXRA
— Zavion Griffin-Haynes (@ZavionGH) January 6, 2025
Griffin-Haynes shared a sentiment that I’ve heard from multiple players that are being recruited by the Tar Heels, mentioning Belichick’s attnetion to detail and obvious film study.
“He was telling me stuff coaches never told me,” Griffin-Haynes told Rivals.com reporter Sam Spiegelman. “Showing me stuff about my game, and just telling me stuff about the NFL and the program’s come-up.”
That’s a sentiment I heard over and over from players and coaches Belichick visited. Some of North Carolina’s top players in strong 2025 and 2026 classes mentioned that Belichick didn’t simply want to introduce himself, they felt he wanted to help them improve.
Coaches felt the same way. Every coach I talked to seemed almost surprised how much Belichick knew about their players. Several said he took the time to talk to position coaches and offer advice about the coaching industry.
“Hell yeah, it was cool,” one head coach told me. “Really cool.”
“He was personable,” another said. “His normal dry self but he was funny. Definitely a wealth of knowledge.
“(He) painted a picture of what the program will look like and how our kids will fit in that program.”
Monday was for some powerhouses in the Raleigh-Durham area. Rolesville High School was the headliner on Day 1, home to not only Griffin-Haynes, but speedy receiver Gavin Waddell. He also stopped by Jordan High School in Durham and South Garner High School, two schools hat form a wide triangle with Rolesville and include over an hour of driving.
He made it back to campus in time to meet with several college transfers, before waking up early and heading back out on the trail on Tuesday.
Tuesday, he hit the road to head to the Charlotte area, stopping by Hough High School on the way into the city. There, he spent time at football powerhouses Weddington, Providence Day, and Myers Park.
Which Players Did Bill Belichick Visit?
Belichick prioritized highly-ranked, uncommitted recruits in the Tar Heel State, visiting 12 of my personal top 19 prospects in the state in less than 36 hours.
Griffin-Haynes grabbed the most attention, simply because of his status as a Tar Heel de-commitment. However, he wasn’t the only highly-rated player that Belichick visited, nor the only he’d apparently scouted.
Belichick visited highly-ranked defensive back Samari Matthews from Hough and according to one of my sources there, he had a lot to say about Matthews’ game. Matthews reportedly felt like a priority for North Carolina, something that could potentially change Matthews’ list of top schools.
Also in the Charlotte area, Belichick visited with twin defensive linemen Andrew and Aidan Harris and linebacker T.J. Davis, the nephews and son, respectively, of NFL Pro Bowler Thomas Davis.
Belichick visited another son of an NFL legend when he saw defensive back Camdin Portis at Myers Park, the son of former Washington running back Clinton Portis. There, he also saw receiver Brody Keefe and potential two-sport star Rodney Dunham.
At Providence Day, he saw a host of top prospects, including offensive lineman Leo Delaney, wide receiver Gordon Sellars, and North Carolina quarterback commit Zaid Lott.
He saw uncommitted defensive lineman Noah Clark at Jordan and a pair of top recruits at South Garner is edge rusher Ebenezer Ewetade and offensive tackle Ekene Ogboko.
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It remains to be seen if this is going to be the norm for the 72-year old or if Belichick was simply doing a one-time PR run around the state.
Regardless, it’s been a busy week for North Carolina’s head coach, one he hopes will pay off in the form of high-profile commitments, and ultimately, more wins on the field.
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