Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Land 2026 3✮ CB

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Make it five consecutive days that the Tar Heels have landed a commitment in the 2026 recruiting class.

As first reported by Inside Carolina, the Tar Heels have landed a commitment from 2026 3✮ CB Xavier Jackson. Jackson chose the Tar Heels over Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Temple, the other three schools that he visited earlier this month. His trip to Chapel Hill came shortly after he received the offer from Bill Belichick and company on June 9th, as he removed a scheduled trip to Michigan State to make room for the official visit on the weekend of June 13th.

Jackson, the No. 980 overall and No. 79 cornerback in the 2026 class, hails from Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, NJ. This past season, as a junior, he finished with 32 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, two interceptions and six passes defensed for a Bergen Catholic team that would win the state title.

Jackson, who measures in at 6’2, 185 lbs., has some very nice size on the outside that the team was needing in this class. He has the ability to succeed in either zone or man coverage and when he plays in press man situations, he does a good job of being physical at the line of scrimmage. He does a good job of playing the football as he makes smart breaks on the ball to knock it down. His speed doesn’t seem like nearly the strength that it is for some of the team’s other committed defensive backs, so quicker receivers may give him some issues. Still, there is a lot to like about his game and if he can prove that he can make plays on the football consistently, there will be a role for him in a Tar Heel uniform.

With the commitment, the Tar Heels now have 27 commits in the class, including three at the cornerback spot. The class sits 20th overall and 6th in the ACC according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.