"He was telling me stuff coaches never told me": High school standout stunned by Bill Belichick's aura

Bill Belichick is on the recruiting trail as he counts down to his first game as coach of the UNC Tar Heels. The legendary tactician will return to coaching, having agreed to a multi-year deal with the Tar Heels starting from the 2025 college football season.

According to Rivals, Belichick visited high school standout Zavion Griffin-Haynes. Following the visit, Griffin-Haynes said:

“He was telling me stuff coaches never told me. Showing me stuff about my game, and just telling me things about the NFL and the program’s come up.”

It remains to be seen whether Belichick's visit will be enough for Griffin-Haynes to take his talents to UNC.

Who is Zavion Griffin-Haynes, a possible target of coach Bill Belichick?

Zavion Griffin-Haynes is a four-star edge rusher prospect from Rolesville High School. Griffin-Haynes is ranked No. 12 among edge rushers and No. 9 in North Carolina, according to 247Sports. He's ranked No. 161 in the country for the 2026 recruitment class.

Griffin-Haynes is a physical specimen. His 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame makes him a target for major colleges. The Rolesville High School star has offers from the Auburn Tigers, Florida State Seminoles, Duke Blue Devils, Georgia Bulldogs, and more.

Interestingly, Griffin-Haynes committed to UNC while former coach Mack Brown was at the helm. However, he de-committed following Brown's firing. Belichick will look to secure Griffin-Haynes' commitment and other elite prospects.

When will Bill Belichick's first game as UNC coach be?

Bill Belichick's first game as the coach of the UNC Tar Heels will be against the TCU Horned Frogs on Aug. 30 at Kenan Stadium.

Belichick will look to get off to a flier as he takes over a job previously occupied by Brown. The six-time Super Bowl-winning coach has never coached at the collegiate level, and some analysts have expressed doubts about his suitability for the task. However, Belichick will look to prove the doubters wrong by improving on the team's 6-7 record in the just-concluded season.