The North Carolina Tar Heels got arguably the best coach in NFL history to take the wheel in Chapel Hill earlier this week, hiring former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Now, just days later, they convinced a touted, young signal-caller to affirm his commitment to the school.
Four-star quarterback prospect Bryce Baker said he decided to stick with his commitment to UNC after a phone call that he had with Belichick, during which the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach sold Baker on his “pro” vision.
“Their experience in the NFL is huge,” Baker told ESPN about Belichick and the Tar Heels. “They’ve been on the level that I’m trying to get to. I feel like that separates them from a lot of other schools. They want to develop me, and they know the intricacies that will help me get to my goals. I feel like [Belichick] will bring in the right pieces to build around me. They’re going to make me a priority.”
Baker originally committed to play for North Carolina in June 2023.
In his senior season at East Forsyth High School, which is roughly a 75-minute drive from Chapel Hill, Baker totaled 3,523 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and a 145.3 passer rating, while completing 74.8% of his passes. He also rushed for 303 yards and six touchdowns.
So far, North Carolina’s 2025 recruiting class is ranked last in the 17-team ACC by 247Sports. The Tar Heels signed seven players in the early signing period from Dec. 4-6, all of them rated three-star prospects.
In addition to Baker’s commitment, three-star defensive lineman Austin Alexander is another “hard” commit for 2025. They and other prospects will be eligible to sign letters of intent during the regular signing period, which begins on Feb. 5.
How will Bill Belichick’s legacy be impacted by him coaching UNC?
Drake Maye (No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft), Mitchell Trubisky (No. 2 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft) and Sam Howell (Round 5 pick in 2022) are among the NFL quarterbacks that North Carolina has produced.
The Tar Heels are 6-6 (3-5 in ACC play) this season. They close out their 2024 campaign on Dec. 28 in the Fenway Bowl against the UConn Huskies (8-4). North Carolina announced that it was moving on from head coach Mack Brown prior to its final game of the regular season in what was Brown’s second stint as the program’s head coach (1988-97 and 2019-24).
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