ESPN host gives UNC-Bill Belichick take Tar Heels fans everywhere will hate

Kevin Clark is not optimistic about UNC football in 2025
North Carolina's Practice Like A Pro Spring Football Event
North Carolina's Practice Like A Pro Spring Football Event | Peyton Williams/GettyImages

Is this a simple hot take from ESPN's Kevin Clark or is he throwing a bucket of cold water on the hopes of UNC football this season to curb some of the expectations?

Whichever way you stand, it's safe to say that Clark, who appeared on the ACC Network over the weekend, is not a fan of the Tar Heels roster. He went as far as to suggest that it's unlikely Bill Belichick will have any success this season.

"I'm intrigued to see if Belichick can scheme up some stuff here," Clark added. "Bridge the talent gap with some of these teams that are more talented."

There's no question that there is a lot of change happening at UNC football. Going from Mack Brown to Bill Belichick is a major difference in philosophy and personality and just the general way the two men go about their daily business probably couldn't be more different. 

Strip it down and build it back up: That is 'The Belichick Way'

Obviously, a major change like this was going to trickle down to the roster. Belichick and General Manager Michael Lombardi are going to do things the way that's familiar to them. That meant the roster was going to be pared down significantly and rebuilt with players Belichick believes will help make UNC a sustainable presence at the top of the ACC. 

​There wasn't a lot of time for Belichick and Lombardi to build the 2025 recruiting class, but they did keep in-state blue-chip quarterback Bryce Baker in the class and then went to work in the transfer portal

When it was all said and done, Belichick recruited over 40 players out of the portal and finished with the ninth-best transfer class in the country.

With all of those transfers in the fold, Belichick and his staff are starting to show what they are capable of on the trail. UNC currently has a recruiting class in the top 20 and there's room to add a few more players. 

So maybe Clark is right. This year might not be one of Belichick's best rosters, but no one can deny that he is working hard to build the Tar Heels into a winner.