Bill Belichick and UNC a finalist for 4-star DL but there’s a catch

Top defensive line prospect Dereon Albert is down to two teams after he opted not to take an official visit to Mississippi State over the past weekend. And a decision is coming soon for the UNC football target.

The Mississippi prospect took his official visit to Chapel Hill back in April and at the time it appeared that the Tar Heels were going to be the team to beat. After the visit, he told Don Callahan of 247Sports that UNC was his top school.

By not locking up Albert's commitment back in April, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound lineman from Jackson, Miss. continued to take visits and took one to Knoxville on June 13. That visit likely put Tennessee in position to snap up the four-star big man. Albert will announce next week between the two schools, but the Vols are considered the favorites.

UNC trending upward for top receiver prospects

There is some good recruiting news for the Tar Heels heading into the weekend. Wide receiver Keeyun Chapman is down to FSU and UNC and will make his decision Friday. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound pass-catcher from Jackson, Ala. took his official visit to Chapel Hill last month, but decided to visit the campus again this past weekend.

What could help UNC in Chapman's recruitment is the fact that they've also offered his brother, Keegan, a scholarship. Keeyun Chapman told Callahan that he always envisions a situation where he and his brother could play together.

UNC coaches might not have to wait until Friday for good news because South Carolina WR prospect Zamaurious Robinson will be making his decision on Thursday and is expected to choose the Heels after taking an official visit there this past weekend.

Soon enough, we'll find out if Belichick will be able to land the touted wideouts who are high on his board. If he does, those two will surely be big-time additions for North Carolina's 2026 class, which currently holds 22 known pledges.