The North Carolina Tar Heels are gearing up for the upcoming football season, which will mark the official start of the Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill. While preparations for the season are in full swing, the program’s recruiting efforts remain a top priority.
After securing several commitments in June, UNC is now emerging as the frontrunner in the race for four-star linebacker Calvin Thomas, a standout from Texas in the 2026 recruiting class. Thomas is scheduled to announce his college decision on Saturday, July 12th.
As his announcement approaches, momentum appears to be shifting in the Tar Heels’ favor. According to On3’s Sam Spiegelman, UNC is currently seen as the favorite to land Thomas. Additionally, 247Sports’ crystal ball predictions back this up, with Nebraska insider Brian Christopherson being the only expert to log a prediction—also in favor of the Tar Heels.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds, Calvin Thomas is rated as a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings, which aggregate evaluations from multiple recruiting services. He’s ranked No. 254 nationally, the No. 18 linebacker in the country, and the No. 33 overall player in the state of Texas.
Thomas has drawn significant attention during his recruitment, holding 34 offers in total. He took five official visits, traveling to North Carolina, Nebraska, Michigan, SMU, and Texas—programs that make up his list of finalists. As his July 12th decision approaches, all signs point to North Carolina as the team to beat in what appears to be a race tilting in the Tar Heels’ favor.
Leave a Reply