Bill Belichick can’t seem to stay out of the headlines. But this time it is for the right reasons. The former Patriots coach has been all over tabloids since the rumours about his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson started. There was a barrage of claims and exposés, some of which claimed this relationship affected his coaching.
Additionally, the viral CBS Mornings moment and UNC having to release a statement just to say Hudson isn’t banned from team facilities did not help. But while the world continues to debate Belichick’s off-field drama, he went ahead and did what he does best. He has landed a new name—and not just any recruit—a legacy kid, and that too, son of a Super Bowl champ.
Mason Wilhelm Opens Up on UNC Commitment and Coach Belichick’s Influence
Bill Belichick’s UNC squad has officially landed Mason Wilhelm. When Wilhelm walked onto the University of North Carolina campus, something clicked. As Wilhelm himself puts it in a recent interview with 247 Sports, “My official visit was great—an opportunity to see the campus, tour the facilities and stadium.”
“The recruiting team did a great job,” Wilhelm added. But it was not just the bells and whistles of Chapel Hill that won him over. “Most importantly, I met all the coaches, learned about the new culture, and got a real feel for the program. They checked every box for me, which made it easy to commit to Coach Belichick and UNC,” said Wilhelm.
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The “Coach Belichick” part carries a lot of weight. Mason Wilhelm knows greatness when he sees it. His father, Matt Wilhelm, was nothing short of a personification of the very same greatness. Matt Wilhelm played eight seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. Matt is a legend of his own accord. And when he saw Belichick bringing NFL-level professionalism to the college scene, he knew it was the real deal.
“They’ve always been a school on my list,” Mason told 247Sports. “The education there is top-notch. I’m very intrigued by what Coach Belichick will bring—professionalism, practice, and prep. It just checks a lot of boxes.” And UNC scored big.
Mason Wilhelm is a 6-foot-4, 290-pound interior lineman from St. Edward, Lakewood, OH. He is a 3-star recruit with a 4.2 GPA and National Honor Society creds. Wilhelm is ranked No. 102 among interior linemen and 63rd in Ohio. He had many offers, including names like Maryland, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, and Baylor.
He was supposed to visit Maryland on June 20. That trip is now off. For what it’s worth, Maryland hasn’t landed a single offensive lineman for their ‘26 class yet. Losing Wilhelm, especially after having a scheduled visit, hurts. But such is the Bill Belichick impact, Maryland should have seen that coming.
But for North Carolina, this is a big win. Mason Wilhelm becomes the third offensive line commit in their 2026 class, joining Anthony Hall and Zion Smith. That puts the Tar Heels at 14 total commitments and ranks No. 20 nationally.
KEEP READING: North Carolina HC Bill Belichick Breaks Silence On NIL, Transfer Portal Chaos
More importantly, it shows the world that Bill Belichick’s still got it. Tabloids can talk all they want. Belichick just secured a legacy lineman with NFL blood. Now that’s the kind of headline he probably prefers. And if history is testimony, this is just the beginning.
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