Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Add Headliner to 2026 Class in the Form of 4✮ S

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The Tar Heels have been searching for a big splash in the 2026 recruiting class and they have just landed one in the form of a major defensive targets.

As first reported by Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports, the Tar Heels have just landed a commitment from 2026 4✮ S Jamarrion Gordon. He chose UNC over the Ole Miss, Florida State and Florida, amongst others.

According to Inside Carolina, the Tar Heels sealed the deal over the weekend when they hosted Gordon for an unofficial visit along with a couple of his other high school teammates. This followed the official visit that he took back during the first weekend of June to Chapel Hill along with those same high school teammates.

Gordon, the No. 422 overall prospect and No. 39 safety prospect in the 2026 class according to 247Sports Composite Player Rankings, hails from Jackson High School in Jackson, AL. This past season, as a junior, he finished with 39 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three interceptions, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 15 games on his way to being named 4A Defensive Player of the Year by Around the State Sports. He also caught 19 passes for 358 yards and six touchdowns on offense. The year prior, as a sophomore, he racked up 30 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, an interception, seven passes defensed and a fumble recovery in 12 games while being named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year again by Around the State Sports. Gordon first came onto the scene as a freshman when he collected 42 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, an interception and three passes defensed in ten games.

Gordon, who measures in at 6’0, 185 lbs., is a defensive back that will be capable of developing at either corner, nickel or safety at the college level. The overall pass coverage ability across the board is outstanding, especially for someone that is put in a lot of 1-on-1 coverage situations out at the corner spot where he spent the majority of his junior season. He has very fluid hips which allow him to seamlessly stay with receivers downfield and he has some nice explosion that allows him to go up and knock the football down. His straight line speed is good, but his closing speed is what really stands out and allows him to constantly be in position to make plays on the football. Combine it with his willingness to come downhill and lay the wood on running backs or receivers at or near the line of scrimmage and it makes sense why they look at him as someone who can play safety at the next level. Regardless of where he ends up playing, this is someone whose talent and versatility makes him a headliner in this class and could have him in line for a role with the Tar Heel secondary within his first couple of seasons in Chapel Hill.

With his commitment, the Tar Heels recruiting class has 23 committed prospects already, three of which are in the defensive backfield if you are counting 3✮ Julian Burns as part of that unit. The commitment jumps the class up to No. 18 overall and No. 5 in the ACC in the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.