RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesNorth Carolina football is preparing for its second season under head coach Bill Belichick.
UNC went 4-8 last season under Belichick and did not have any players selected in this year's NFL draft.
Ahead of Thursday morning's practice, Belichick gave updates on players and his son Steve, who is also the team's defensive coordinator.
The Tar Heels' opening game is on Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
UNC Kicker returns after court's ruling
Kicker Rece Verhoff has returned to North Carolina for a fifth year after a federal court granted high school class of 2022 athletes an additional season of eligibility in a ruling tied to the NCAA's new eligibility model.
The program first announced Verhoff's return with a social-media post Wednesday showing him kicking at practice. Coach Bill Belichick said Thursday that the uncertainty as to whether there could be additional court action has created "a little bit of a temporary situation now," with the Tar Heels less than a month away from their opener against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
"Certainly he was a great teammate for us last year," Belichick said before the morning practice. "So we welcomed him back. We'll see what happens with this process. That's all out of our control. There are multiple other legal situations going on that could directly or indirectly involve him.
"But as it stands right now, we'll proceed with what appears to be the current ruling."
Belichick's son, defensive coordinator on medical leave
North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, the son of head coach Bill Belichick, is on medical leave, his father said Thursday morning.
The Tar Heels are in the second week of preseason camp. UNC opens the season Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
"It's a medical situation so I really can't make any further comment on that," Belichick said, adding only that the team hoped to have him back "as soon as possible" when asked about a timeline for his return.
He also said the defensive staff already works "collectively" when asked how the team would adjust during his son's absence.
Steve Belichick joined his father's staff ahead of the NFL coaching great's first college season last year, following a year as the University of Washington's defensive coordinator. Before that, he had worked on his father's staff with the NFL's New England Patriots.
Last week, the school announced general manager Michael Lombardi had been placed on paid administrative leave and was the subject of a school investigation.
SEE ALSO | UNC football GM responds after being placed on administrative leave
Lombardi joined Belichick at UNC in December 2024, reuniting with the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach. He worked under Belichick with the New England Patriots from 2014 to 2016 and earlier with the Cleveland Browns beginning in 1987.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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