Heel Tough Blog: 2026 3✮ DL Target Down to Three Schools

@noah_faupusa- Instagram

The Tar Heels are still in search of more help along the defensive line in the 2026 class and on Tuesday morning, the team landed in the top schools list for one of their top remaining targets.

According to Scott Proctor of the DNVR Buffs, 2026 3✮ DL Manoah Faupusa has narrowed his recruitment down to three schools, UNC, Arizona and Colorado, the three that he officially visited this offseason. He will make his decision known via Instagram Live on July 5th.

Faupusa, the No. 1100 overall prospect and No. 117 defensive lineman in the 2026 class, hails from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. In six games this past season, he racked up 20 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed. Back in his freshman year he was named the West Catholic Athletic League’s Defensive Lineman of the Year in a season where he finished with 31 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble in 12 games.

Heading into the decision, there doesn’t seem to be a lean in any specific direction, but the timing of his visit to Chapel Hill could be a factor here. Faupusa took his official to Chapel Hill back in early April, as opposed to the Arizona and Colorado visits which he just took earlier this month. The hope is that neither one of those visits really did enough to overtake what he saw from the Tar Heels, but that is something that is far from a guarantee.