North Carolina football, with NFL legend Bill Belichick at the helm, is set to begin a new chapter in just a month. Behind the scenes, the Tar Heels coaching staff has been steadily building their 2026 class and just secured a major victory. On Friday, Viliami Moala, a 6-foot-2, 340-pound defensive lineman and former USC and Oregon commit, announced his decision to join North Carolina.
Belichick and the Tar Heels secured a new verbal commitment from Viliami Moala, a defensive tackle who had previously committed to Oregon as a four-star prospect. Moala officially backed out of his pledge to the Big Ten champions on July 7.
Less than a month ago, Moala ended his long-standing commitment to Oregon after transferring to Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama. He had first committed to USC in September before switching to Oregon the following month.
He became the third major recruit to walk away from the Ducks, following quarterback Jonas Williams, who chose USC, and edge rusher Richard Wesley, who committed to Texas.
Viliami Moala choosing Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels
Moala had also given a verbal commitment to USC earlier in 2024 but withdrew his pledge in October.
“I had a great talk with Coach [Bill] Belichick, and he had told me he had a great plan in what he was building there at UNC. And I want to be a part of that. I believe that UNC can be the best with the plan that they have,” Moala told ON3’s Don Callahan.
Moala played his junior season at Bingham High in South Jordan, Utah, where he racked up 99 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 35 quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups. After that season, he moved to Willamette High in Eugene, Oregon, for the second half of the year. His high school journey has also included stops at Davis High in Kaysville, Utah, and Brighton High in Salt Lake City.
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Rivals Industry Ranking lists Moala as the No. 438 overall recruit and the No. 42 defensive lineman in the country. He also ranks as Alabama’s No. 17 prospect. With his addition, North Carolina’s 2026 class now features 34 pledges and holds the No. 20 spot in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
Bill Belichick spent July strengthening the future of his defense. On July 12, Calvin Thomas picked the Tar Heels instead of Texas and Michigan, adding a key piece to their linebacker corps. Just days later, on July 16, Belichick flipped defensive back Jakob Weatherspoon from his Ohio State commitment to UNC.
