In his first offseason as North Carolina's head coach, Bill Belichick is already making waves. Despite rumors of an NFL return, Belichick and North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi both vowed their commitment to the Tar Heels.
"Bill Belichick is completely committed to North Carolina..
That story about him going to the NFL was a complete falsehood and that story had no legs"
@mlombardiNFL #PMSLivepic.twitter.com/XRA3pzw5FY
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 9, 2025
And their efforts on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal prove that.
In his latest recruiting move, Belichick flipped four-star defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin from Texas A&M to North Carolina. Ruffin, the 24th-ranked 2026 defensive lineman according to 247Sports, announced his commitment to North Carolina in an Instagram post Monday.
The 6-foot-3 Ruffin is from Mount Olive, N.C. and originally committed to the Aggies in October. Ruffin's commitment boosts North Carolina's 2026 recruiting class to 22nd in the country, as he is the Tar Heels' first four-star of the cycle and Belichick's highest-rated recruit as head coach.
The Aggies' recruiting class sits 9th in 247Sports' rankings after the flip. While Mike Elko's class is still in good shape, losing Ruffin is a major hit. Ruffin was one of two four-star defensive lineman committed to Texas A&M, leaving New Jersey native Jermaine Kinsler as Texas A&M's only commit at the position. With the talent the Aggies have lost in the trenches, Ruffin would have been a massive addition.
Despite the loss of Ruffin, the Aggies still have time to recover on the recruiting trail. Texas A&M is still in the mix for Texas native Jamarion Carlton, 247Sports' top-rated defensive lineman in this year's cycle. The Aggies are battling fellow in-state power conference schools for Carlton, including Baylor, SMU and Texas. Carlton also visited LSU this weekend.
The Aggies are also in a recruiting battle for intriguing two-way prospect Lamar Brown. Brown played both ways in high school and has a chance to play on both the offensive and defensive lines at the high-major level. Texas A&M is battling Florida State, LSU and Miami for Brown. The Aggies hosted Brown on a visit over the weekend.
AGGIELAND THIS WEEKEND!!! pic.twitter.com/izlG2Y6roc
— Lamar Brown (@lamar1brown) March 16, 2025
With spring practices coming up, Elko and his staff will have to assess the strength of their defensive line and how to address any needs in the 2026 recruiting cycle. While Belichick and North Carolina delivered a huge blow to the Aggies' 2026 class, there is still time for Texas A&M to recover.
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This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 8:40 PM.