UNC football program gets another commitment from the class of 2026

The UNC football program received another commitment from the Class of 2026.

Mason Wilhelm, a 247Sports Composite three-star offensive lineman, is a 6-foot-4, 285-pound interior lineman from St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. According to 247Sports, he is the No. 102-ranked interior lineman in the country and the No. 63-ranked player in the state of Ohio. What does that make him? A diamond in the rough, which is precisely what Bill Belichick likes to polish into a quality NFL starter.

During Mack Brown 2.0, North Carolina would generally recruit offensive tackles, and competition in training camp would determine who started on the outside, and who tucked in to the guard slots. Deliberately recruiting guards is a new tack for UNC, but Bill Belichick had no issues drafting guards, nor waiting until the late rounds to grab them.

Wilhelm will need some time to get into Carolina's strength and conditioning program and add some weight before he'll be able to similarly hold ground and smash pass rushers like he did in high school. However, he possesses the talent and tenacity to be an intriguing future piece for the Tar Heels.

Wilhelm is Belichick's third offensive line commitment in the Class of 2026, joining fellow three-stars Anthony Hall and DeMatha's (Hyattsville, MD) Zion Smith.