UNC football’s highest remaining Class of 2025 recruit re-assures his commitment

A phone call with Bill Belichick landed the UNC football team another recruiting commitment.

If you’re a high school or college football player and you get a call from Bill Belichick, pick up the phone.

On Sunday, December 15, UNC football recruiting target Austin Alexander did exactly that.

Alexander, a 4-star defensive end from Burlington, Ky. who will graduate from Cooper High School soon and join North Carolina for the Fenway Bowl, reassured his commitment to UNC after a Sunday conversation with Belichick.

“He (Belichick) really spoke more about, ‘This is how we will use you coming in,’” Austin’s dad, Durran Alexander, told Cincinnati’s WCPO 9 ABC News. “How we will use your skills.”

In the same story, the elder Alexander said it’s a blessing his son will get to play for Belichick.

After the Tar Heels fired Mack Brown in late November, their future recruiting classes faced uncertainty. 2026 4-star edge rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes de-committed, while 4-star quarterback Bryce Baker – who remained committed – said he was going to look at other programs.

Getting a re-assurance from Alexander is yet another Tar Heels recruiting victory. With Desmond Evans out of eligibility and Kaimon Rucker recently declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft, Alexander has a clear spot to starting from Day One.

Alexander totaled 245 tackles, 42.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss in his high school career, which ended in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association 5A State Championship on Dec. 7. In short, Alexander produces and will bring his motor to a UNC unit that drastically improved in 2024.

Will Haynes join Alexander in pledging his loyalty to North Carolina? Will any other former Tar Heel targets – and uncommitted guys – select Chapel Hill as their college football destination?

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