Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels in the Final Schools List for Two High School Teammates

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The next few weeks are going to be full of decisions in the 2026 class and, on Sunday, two of the team’s top defensive targets add themselves to the list of players who will announce their commitment in that time frame.

As first reported by Tom Loy of 247Sports, the Tar Heels are a part of the final schools lists for two high school teammates, 4✮ DL Dereon Albert and 3✮ CB O’Mari Johnson, who will announce their decisions on July 1st. Albert is down to UNC and Tennessee while Johnson is down to UNC, Mississippi State and Tulane.

Albert, the No. 358 overall prospect and No. 42 defensive lineman in the 2026 class according to 247Sports Composite Player Rankings, hails from Jackson Academy in Jackson, MS. In 2024, as a junior, he was named a first team all-state member after collecting 81 total tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, one interception, seven passes defensed and one fumble recovery. The year prior, as a sophomore, he finished with 69 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He burst onto the scene back in 2022 when he had 96 total tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.

As for Johnson, he is the No. 448 overall prospect and No. 72 wide receiver in the class according to 247Sports Composite Player Rankings. He did not play on the defensive side of the football this year after he was hurt during the first game of this past season, which caused him to miss the entire season. As a sophomore in 2023, he collected 52 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, four interceptions and six passes defensed. The year prior, as a freshman, he tallied 29 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions, two passes defensed and a forced fumble. Back in 2021, as an 8th grader, he had 31 total tackles, three interceptions and five passes defensed.

When it comes to the Tar Heels chances to actually land either one of these guys, the odds seem pretty thin. Albert seems to be a pretty strong lean towards Tennessee following his official visit there last week where he told Go Vols 247 that they were “probably No. 1” following the trip. Meanwhile, Johnson, the former Tar Heel commit, is probably looking to stay closer to home because of some family health concerns.