Bill Belichick scored a major recruiting victory as college football’s early signing period started Wednesday by convincing four-star defensive tackle recruit Vodney Cleveland to flip his commitment from Texas to North Carolina.
The Tar Heels had reportedly been attempting to flip Cleveland for months, and Belichick and his staff pulled it off on early National Signing Day.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 305-pound Cleveland played high school football at A.H. Parker high school in Birmingham, Ala. According to ESPN, Cleveland is the No. 228 overall prospect in his recruiting class, and the No. 17 player at his position.
North Carolina is the third program Cleveland has committed to in the recruiting process. He had previously committed to Alabama before picking Texas in June. Now with North Carolina, he is considered a big piece to Belichick’s 2026 class.
Cleveland is one of 12 four-star recruits in North Carolina’s 2026 class so far, according to ESPN. The new class should provide some improved talent for a Tar Heel team that finished 4-8 in Belichick’s first season as head coach.
Wednesday was the first National Signing Day for the Class of 2026, marking the first opportunity for high school prospects to lock up scholarships and sign financial aid agreements.
Kevin Dillon can be reached at kevin.dilon@globe.com. Follow him on X @ByKevinDillon.