Bill Belichick’s 2028 class at North Carolina picked up another big piece on Monday, and this one gives the Tar Heels a major target to pair with their new quarterback.
Four-star tight end Greg Kirwan announced his commitment to UNC, becoming the second member of the program’s 2028 recruiting class. The move came just one day after North Carolina landed four-star quarterback Levi Kerr, giving the Tar Heels back-to-back four-star additions to open the cycle.
Kirwan, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end from Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, is ranked by the Rivals Industry Ranking as the No. 280 overall prospect and the No. 14 tight end in the 2028 class. He drew a long list of heavyweight offers along the way, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, among others.
He had already made multiple trips to Chapel Hill before making his decision. Kirwan visited UNC earlier this season for the Tar Heels’ game against Notre Dame, then returned to Kenan Stadium this past weekend for the Halloween night matchup with No. 1 Miami.
On Monday, Kirwan shared his commitment with a message that read: “Thank you to all my family and friends and coaches who have helped me out in my journey!! I am proud to announce that I am committed to the University of North Carolina!!!
GO TAR HEELS👣!! @GoHeels @UNCFootball @UNC @UNCFBfamily @CoachPick53 @Belichick_B @UNCRecruits @LAmustangFB pic.twitter.com/wmb3U8oH9L”
For UNC, the pairing of Kerr and Kirwan gives the 2028 class an early offensive foundation. Quarterbacks tend to help recruit the rest of a class once they’re committed, and now the Tar Heels have that piece in place, along with a tight end who can be a natural fit in the passing game.
There’s a long way to go before the class is finished, but North Carolina has already made a clear statement with two four-star offensive commitments in two days. The Tar Heels are off to a fast start, and the next question is simple: who’s next?
In Other News...
UNC Just Landed An In-State QB Fans Will Be Watching Closely
North Carolina got an early jump on its 2028 class with the commitment of four-star quarterback Levi Kerr, a highly regarded in-state prospect from Marvin Ridge High School. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal-caller becomes the first player to join the Tar Heels next wave of recruits, giving the program an early foundation at the most important position on the field.
Kerr had drawn interest from multiple major programs, but UNC made a strong enough impression during two visits to land his pledge. For a staff trying to build momentum on the trail, securing one of the top quarterbacks in his class this early is a notable start, even if the bigger question now is how the Tar Heels keep building around him. [Read more 🡒]
Belichick Just Highlighted UNCs Toughest Roster-Building Problem
Bill Belichick used a recent press conference to put a spotlight on one of the biggest challenges facing North Carolina as it tries to build and manage a roster in the new era of college football. The Carolina coach drew a clear contrast between the NFLs contract structure and college footballs revenue-sharing setup, pointing to the difference in how each system is organized and explained.
Belichick said college football still lacks the kind of transparency that comes with the NFLs collective bargaining agreement, and he framed the current setup as something still taking shape. He also noted that pending legislation could bring more changes to the sport, a reminder that roster-building now comes with as much uncertainty off the field as it does on it. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs Offense Showed Up Against No. 1 But One Problem Loomed
For a team that needed its offense to answer a heavyweight, North Carolina got exactly that in a 38-35 loss to No. 1 Miami. Jelani Thurman and Billy Edwards, Jr. helped keep the Tar Heels in striking distance, and Bobby Petrinos offensive plan gave UNC enough rhythm and punch to make the game feel winnable deep into the night.
The problem was on the other side of the ball, where Miami kept finding the answers when it mattered most. The Hurricanes turned key third- and fourth-down chances into the kind of drives that separate a close game from a comeback, leaving North Carolina with more proof that its offense can travel against elite competition, but also a reminder that the defense still has to hold up its end. [Read more 🡒]
