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North Carolina adds talent in the trenches, securing a commitment from Nick Fiumara

Bill Belichick and his staff got a late jump on this recruitment but still found a way to land the talented Massachusetts native.
ByNick Delahanty|
Oct 30, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; A detail of the North Carolina Tar Heels logo on a football during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images
Oct 30, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; A detail of the North Carolina Tar Heels logo on a football during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images | Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

It's crazy how high school recruitments can change so quickly.

Three-star offensive linemen Nick Fiumara was being recruited by the UNC football program during the end of the Mack Brown era. The Massachusetts native even attended a game last fall, but things drastically changed when Brown was relieved from his duties as the program's head coach.

After not hearing from North Carolina since the change, Fiumara focused on other programs. However, Andrew Blaylock, the UNC football program's assistant director of player personnel, attended a showcase at Belmont Hill School, the school that Fiumara attends in May, and the rest is history.

Following an official visit to North Carolina this weekend, one that ended with a scholarship offer from Bill Belichick, Fiumara wasted no time committing to the UNC football program. He made his official decision on Thursday, choosing North Carolina over Maryland, the final two schools in his recruitment.

Fiumara is a 6-foot-5, 295-pound offensive lineman. Currently, 247Sports ranks him as a three-star talent and the No. 7 overall prospect from the state of Maryland within the 2026 recruiting class.

Growing up in Massachusetts, it's safe to say that Fiumara watched Belichick lead the New England Patriots during his childhood. Now, Fiumara will have the opportunity to play for the man that led the Patriots (who are located just about 40 minutes away from his hometown) to six Super Bowl championships.

The addition of Fiumara now gives the UNC football program 17 commitments from the Class of 2026. North Carolina has done a great job of adding depth in the trenches, already securing commitments from five offensive linemen.

While North Carolina utilized the transfer portal to address current needs, they are using high school recruitments to help build the foundation of the program for years to come. Fiumara could definitely be one of those cornerstones to help make that happen along the Tar Heels future offensive line unit.

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