Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Complete Flip of 2026 3✮ CB

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The Tar Heels have been looking to flip some targets from the teams that have already fired their head coach, and on Monday, they completed the first of what could be a group of flips.

As first reported by Hayes Fawcett of Rivals, the Tar Heels have completed the flip of 2026 3✮ CB Jaziel Hart from Penn State. His commitment to UNC comes after the staff re-offered him shortly after his decommitment back on October 14th and before he is set to take his official visit to Chapel Hill on the weekend of the Duke game.

Hart, the No. 559 overall prospect and No. 43 cornerback in the 2026 recruiting class according to 247Sports Composite Player Rankings, is in the midst of his senior season at North Cross High School in Roanoke, VA. Unfortunately, there are no stats available for his senior season so far, but he is part of a team that is 7-2 so far this season. Last year, as a junior, he finished with 23 total tackles and four interceptions for a team that finished the season with a 9-2 record.

Hart is a dynamic athlete that has found plenty of success on both sides that the team appears like they will play at corner. He loves to bring the physicality on the outside in press man coverage and thrives in those situations, something that the Tar Heels are wanting in their defensive backfield. He does a good job of getting in and out of breaks and closes on the football well. His ball skills are promising and he has the ability to make plays on 50/50 balls with just how explosive he is. He is a strong tackler that steps up to make plays in the run game and his motor runs hot with how he chases plays down from behind. It might take him some time before he becomes a major contributor at corner, but he has plenty of special teams ability that will allow him to make an early impact.

With his commitment, the Tar Heels now have 38 total commits in the 2026 class. The commitment keeps the team No. 16 overall and No. 4 in the ACC rankings according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.