Heel Tough Blog: Who Remains in 2026 Class?
- Anthony Pagnotta
- Jul 7
- 4 min read
The Tar Heels have seen the majority of their remaining targets in the 2026 class announce their commitments within the last week, leaving just a handful of prospects to make their decisions. Here is a look at the players that are still on the board for the team in this 2026 class as they look to add some more headliners to the class.
4✮ ATH CJ Sadler- Cass Technical School (Detroit, MI)
Sadler is the top ranked target for the team that remains uncommitted and it feels like the Tar Heels are in a great spot for him. According to an article written by Sam Spiegelman of On3/Rivals earlier this month, the Tar Heels are the team with the momentum in his recruitment. Other experts for On3/Rivals also heavily favor the Tar Heels with three having cast predictions in favor of the Tar Heels in the last week. As of right now, Sadler does not have a scheduled commitment on the docket, meaning this decision could come at any time this summer.
4✮ DL Carter Gooden- Tabor Academy (Marion, MA)
Gooden is a name that Tar Heel fans really want, but this one seems to be slipping away. Right now, UCLA seems to be the trending team here following the conclusion of his official visit schedule last month. Even if it doesn’t go the Bruins way, the Tar Heels seem to be out of the running here.
4✮ LB Calvin Thomas- Cypress Ranch (Cypress, TX)
The Tar Heels are looking for their second commitment in the 2026 class at the linebacker spot and Thomas is the target that the team is hoping can fill that need. According to a report today from Sam Spiegelman of Rivals, the Tar Heels are the team that has made a late push for him and they are “emerging as the frontrunner” for him. Thomas will be announcing his commitment on Saturday so the hope is that the Tar Heels can hold off a charge from Nebraska and land his commitment.
4✮ WR Carnell Warren- Bluffton (Bluffton, SC)
Warren is the last outside receiver on the board for the Tar Heels and they seem to still be the team that is favored to land his commitment. Following his decommitment from Virginia Tech, UNC was the only school that received an official visit from him, establishing themselves as the favorite for his services. As of right now, he does not have a decision date set, meaning that he could commit at any time or choose to extend his recruitment to the fall.
3✮ DL Viliami Moala- Willamette (Eugene, OR)
Moala just decommitted from Oregon earlier this evening and the Tar Heels are receiving the majority of the buzz with the team since his recruitment reopened. Blair Angulo of 247Sports says that the team has been “gaining buzz” with him recently and, according to his agency, Raising Champions, Moala was on campus for a visit during the month of June. If that is true, then the Tar Heels appear to be in a good spot to add him as the second nose tackle in this class.
3✮ DL Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais- Cherry Creek (Englewood, CO)
Umu-Cais is another guy that the Tar Heels could be looking to as that second space-eating defensive tackle commit in this class. Right now, it feels like the Tar Heels are in decent shape in a recruitment that looks pretty cloudy in terms of leaders. Like some of the team’s other top targets, he does not have a decision date set, so his decision could happen at any time this summer.
3✮ DL Joseph Peko- Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA)
Peko seems to be nearing a decision and this is another recruitment that we are almost certain doesn’t go the Tar Heels way. The team might be part of his final two along with Colorado, but the Buffaloes have the advantage of having his father on staff as the defensive line coach and his brother as a member of the team after transferring in this offseason.
UR WR Dionte Neal- Reidsville (Reidsville, NC)
Neal has yet to commit anywhere and might very well be the team’s backup plan in the slot if something doesn’t materialize with Sadler. The one thing that might stand in the way of that is the lack of a basketball offer but it is still early in the 2026 class on the basketball side of things. This is a prospect that will likely wait until the fall to announce his decision.
UR LB Japrei Wafer- Allen (Allen, TX)
Wafer is another prospect that seems like a backup plan for the Tar Heels at this time. If Thomas is to go elsewhere, this is where the team’s attention will likely turn. If that is the case, it’s hard to feel like he ends up anywhere but Chapel Hill. If Thomas ends up committing, Wafer’s recruitment will likely reopen in the fall.
UR LS Jack Wheeler- Cannon School (Concord, NC)
Wheeler is a guy that received an offer from the Tar Heels earlier this offseason but hasn’t jumped on it just yet. This is one to always keep in the back of your mind until he commits somewhere.
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