3 UNC football targets on 'commit watch' with busy summer here for Bill Belichick

It's been a pretty fruitful summer for UNC football recruiting so far. The Tar Heels received 15 verbal commitments in June, shooting the 2026 class into the top 20. Some of the major targets that committed last month include four-star pass rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes and three-star offensive lineman Will Conroy.

​July has already gotten off to a good start with three-star athlete O'Mari Johnson re-affirming his pledge to UNC after backing away from his original commitment at the end of May,

Right now, the Tar Heels have 28 verbal commitments in the 2026 recruiting class. That number would suggest that there are only a few major targets remaining. Here are three prospects to keep an eye on over the next couple of weeks.

​Four-star wide receiver Keeyun Chapman

Chapman, a 6-foor-4, 195-pounder from Jackson, Alabama, was supposed to make his announcement on June 27, but he decided not to. His brother, cornerback Keegun Chapman, did commit to the Tar Heels, joining their teammate at Jackson H.S., safety Jamorrion Gordon. 

There are rumblings that Chapman's other finalist, Florida State, is making a late charge, and that has been the reason for the delay. Chapman is the Tar Heels' top target on offense and would be a huge addition.

Three-star safety Darien Lewis

UNC appears to be a great spot for Lewis, who will make his announcement over the weekend between UNC, TCU and UNLV. Lewis took his official visit to Chapel Hill on June 20 and that trip might have sealed the deal for the athlete from Amarillo, Texas. 

Three-star defensive lineman Manoah Faupusa

The Tar Heels want to add another big body on the defensive line and Faupase, a 6-2, 315-pounder from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, will be making his choice between UNC, Arizona and Colorado on Saturday. 

Faupasa took his official visit to Chapel Hill back in April, and it's been a waiting game since then. Colorado seems to have made the biggest charge over the past month, but early predictions had Faupasa heading to Arizona.