Bill Belichick’s appointment as the UNC football team head coach was something that came out of the blue for everyone. Coach Mach Brown was fired at the end of the 2024 season, and many speculated some names, but no one expected it to be this big. The breaking news came on December 11, 2024. Since the program has re-emerged at the top of the bloodlines from the footnotes of college football.

Who better than the legendary Bill Belichick to do the job and take the program from its obscurities and lead it into the gates of ‘footballing’ Valhalla? And so started the rebuilding process that Belichick also emphasized in various interviews. Recruitment wars, staff reshuffle, and, in a sense, turning the program inside out. In this rebuilding process, it appears that Belichick is finally focusing on a prospect who possesses the potential to address one of the most feared aspects of UNC football in the 2024 season.

Elijah Golden, the 4-star rated defensive lineman, is someone who has the potential to form an unbreakable wall on the team’s D line. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 246 lbs, he is a beast of a player. His performances have already impressed all the major colleges in America, including Oregon, OSU, Florida, Michigan, and Notre Dame, among others. But the most likely program to land Elijah Golden is undoubtedly the Tar Heels. They are ranked first in probability rankings to land him at 25.3%. Showcasing the kind of pull Belichick has on the player. But how exactly did it all transpire?

Well, the moves to land the player were made even before the arrival of Belichick under Coach Mack Brown. He even visited the program in June 2024. While the visit didn’t make so much of a difference, as he was still pursued by top colleges at the time. But the probability rankings began to take shape in favor of UNC after Belichick started putting his hand in the whole process. The result is in front of you. Add that to the aspect that the player has the potential to rectify one of the major D-line deficiencies for UNC in the 2024 season.

Their defense was a major problem in the 2024 season. And so it is no surprise that they are ranked 11th in their conference in rushing defense. That alone shows how penetrable their D-line was in 2024. But their defense against Air Raid offenses also didn’t stand out much. As in that, too, they conceded almost 226 passing yards per game, which looks decent. But not very good when you want to compete in the playoffs. So, the addition of Elijah Golden will definitely rectify some of their D-line issues and make them an impenetrable fortress in defense. But does all this mean that Elijah Golden is a done deal for UNC? Well, there’s a catch.

Is Elijah Golden at UNC a done deal?

While Belichick’s UNC is the favorite to land the hot prospect. Still, there are programs like Michigan, Georgia, and Alabama that are making inroads into the recruitment game. They have also made significant strides in trying to secure the player’s services. Take, for example, the case of Michigan, which has also made an offer for the player and is making significant strides in acquiring his services. Golden was also impressed with how Michigan’s D-line had performed over the years and praised Sherrone Moore on that. The Verdict?

Well, it’s looking like a long, tedious battle to acquire the 2026 prospect. All the coaches, including Kirby Smart, Sherrone Moore, and Bill Belichick, are closing on the commitment. Plus, add to that another 32 colleges that have already made an offer to the player. The commitment will not be easily acquired. However, with Belichick’s rap sheet in terms of football history and his charisma. The competition may well end very soon if Belichick wants.