The North Carolina defense is looking for a new face to help push the program forward, and cornerback Kaleb Cost has a real chance to be that guy.
Bill Belichick heads into his second season in Chapel Hill with lower expectations and a hotter seat after a 4-8 debut last fall. The offense got the biggest overhaul, with Belichick bringing in offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and loading up on transfers after North Carolina’s 2025 attack became one of the worst in the FBS.
There’s some upside there, especially with wide receiver Jordan Shipp leading the way, but the roster still needs more difference-makers. Outside of Shipp and edge rusher Melkart Abou Jaoude, the Tar Heels are still searching for stars who can raise the ceiling.
Cost fits that description as well as anyone on the defensive side. The redshirt junior and former three-star recruit played baseball for the Tar Heels two seasons ago, but now that football is his full focus, he has a chance to become one of the team’s top defenders.
He’s already put together a strong resume over the past two seasons, piling up 113 tackles, three interceptions, and nine passes defended. Under both Belichick and former head coach Mack Brown, he has mostly worked as a nickel defender, though that role could expand as he keeps developing. What jumps out is the combination of football intelligence, production, athletic ability, and a solid frame despite standing 5-foot-10.
This year could also bring more comfort in Belichick’s system. In his second season in the scheme, Cost may have a better handle on the communication demands in the secondary, which were at times shaky as the new defense settled in. That uncertainty helped create the “bend, don't break” approach that kept North Carolina in a lot of games until it couldn’t.
If the offense is better in 2026, the defense should not be asked to carry quite as much of the load. That could mean more chances for Cost to make plays, and his short-area burst and closing speed show up clearly on film. His run defense and untapped ceiling in coverage give him a path to becoming a star for the Tar Heels.
For Belichick, that would mean another defender he can trust when the game tightens up - whether it’s an open-field stop near the line of scrimmage or a key pass breakup in four-down territory. If Cost takes that next step, North Carolina’s defense could become a much tougher unit for ACC opponents to handle.
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