Bill Belichick made up for lost time. The new North Carolina head coach earned ESPN’s “ biggest riser ” honors for his first recruiting class, which includes 17 prep recruits and two transfers. The Tar Heels’ class ranked 45th and included one top-300 recruit, per ESPN, and is 10th-best among ACC schools.

The Tar Heels added 19 players on National Signing Day, an influx that includes four-star quarterback Au’Tori Newkirk.

The eight-time Super Bowl winner is a college head coach for the first time and doing something he has never had to do: recruit.

Bill Belichick experienced his first National Signing Day as head coach of the North Carolina football team. While the February signing day isn't what it once was due to the early signing period in December,