It was a very productive Tuesday on the recruiting trail for Bill Belichick and the UNC football program.
After securing a commitment from a touted Class of 2026 linebacker prospect, the Tar Heels ended the night by securing a commitment from Jonah Rodriguez, a JuCo offensive lineman.
North Carolina! Let’s do it! Excited to be a Tar Heel🐏🩵 Thank you to all the coaches throughout this process! @SWCJaguarFB @UNCFootball @CoachKrich @jakeconst08 @CoachWillFriend @JUCOFFrenzy @GregBiggins #jucoproduct pic.twitter.com/tTMmglYNmJ
— Jonah Rodriguez (@JonahRodz) November 26, 2025
Who is Jonah Rodriguez
Rodriguez is a 6-foot-4, 290-pounder who most recently competed for Southwestern College. A San Diego, California native, Rodriguez's initial college choice kept him close to home. Choosing to attend San Diego State, Rodriguez red shirted during his lone season with the program.
He then proceeded to transfer to Arizona, seeing time as both center and guard, but never appeared in a game for the Wildcats.
For the third year in a row, Rodriguez found himself looking for a new home, one he found at Southwestern College. He regained his stock as an offensive lineman, proving what he could do as an offensive tackle.
How did Rodriguez become a Tar Heel?
Two programs appeared to have really captured Rodriguez's attention: North Carolina and Colorado. After visiting North Carolina earlier in the month, the offensive lineman transfer took a stop to visit Deion Sanders and the Boulders last week. He originally was scheduled to visit California, but elected to cancel that visit as his final decision was made:
Rodriguez knew he wanted to be a Tar Heel.
What does it mean for UNC
Considering that the UNC football program is expected to lose the five offensive linemen who have logged the most snaps for this year's team, Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels will need to once again revamp this unit during the offseason.
Rodriguez is an intriguing fit, given his versatility. Belichick and his staff have made it a pattern of recruiting linemen who aren't limited to one spot along the line, as we've seen them experiment with different combinations to find what works best for the program at the time.
With experience essentially along the entire offensive line, Rodriguez, who has at least two years of eligibility remaining, could be one of those guys who factor in wherever the team needs him the most.