Heel Tough Blog: 2026 4✮ OT Target Announces Final Four

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The Tar Heels are still working on adding some headliners to their 2026 recruiting class and one of the players that the team is targeting to do just that announced his final four schools on Friday.

As he revealed on social media, the Tar Heels are one of four schools remaining for 2026 4✮ OT Thomas Wilder. They are joined by Maryland, Penn State and Virginia Tech as those that are still in the hunt for him. Earlier this offseason, Wilder set his decision date for July 13th and that seems to still stand at this time.

The Tar Heels were supposed to get an official visit from him back on the weekend of May 16th, but it seems like he did not make that trip judging off the lack of hype before or after the visit was scheduled to be made. Wilder, who is currently at Penn State right now, will officially visit Maryland next weekend and head to Virginia Tech the following week.

Wilder, the No. 318 overall prospect and No. 30 offensive tackle in the 2026 class according to 247Sports Composite Player Rankings, hails from Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, VA. This past year, as a junior, he was named a first team all-state and all-region member for a Green Run team that made a run to the VHSL Class 5 state semifinals.

Unless the Tar Heels can get him to officially visit, it feels like they are the odd team out in a race that appears to be incredibly close right now. Penn State, Maryland and Virginia Tech all seem to have a legitimate shot to be the pick for him on July 13th.

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