Heel Tough Blog: 2026 Official Visit Primer- June 17th

After another huge weekend of official visits, the Tar Heels are scheduled to host a couple of big name prospects here in the midweek before they close things down with official visits this weekend. Here is a look at the two prospects who will be visiting starting on Tuesday and where their recruitments stand.

4✮ DL Carter Gooden- Tabor Academy (Marion, MA)

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Gooden enters this visit with a wide open race for his commitment. Penn State and Michigan State seem to be the teams in the best shape for him following their official visits with him, but it feels like there is still opportunity there for the Tar Heels and hometown Boston College. A strong visit here might just be enough to surge the Tar Heels to the lead before he heads to Chestnut Hill to close out his official visit schedule.

4✮ LB Duyon Forkpa Jr.- IMG Academy (Buford, GA)

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Forkpa Jr. seems to have a pretty open race going as well, but it feels like the Tar Heels have their work cut out for them. The trio of Florida schools, Florida State, Florida and Miami, seem to be in the best shape for him, but don’t count out Michigan here either after his visit there this past weekend. It feels like the Tar Heels will need a very strong showing this week to have much of a chance here.