Legendary UNC alum Lawrence Taylor sets high expectations for Bill Belichick

Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was appointed as the coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels to replace Mack Brown. It has been one of the strangest moves in college football this year but the expectations in Chapel Hill are sky-high after the high-profile appointment. Former North Carolina star Lawrence Taylor voiced them during a Wednesday interview with ESPN's Adam Schefter.

“All I can say is that Carolina’s got a chance to win it all again now – they got a chance,” Taylor said. “I think it’s all about recruiting and all that stuff. One thing I’ve got to tell you, if you’re looking at Bill Belichick, he has the knowledge, he knows the game of football.

“And all I think he’s got to do now is put a team together that’s going to help him recruit."

Bill Belichick hits the recruitment trail

When the news about the North Carolina Tar Heels hiring Bill Belichick hit the airwaves, one of the concerns leveled against him was his relative lack of experience in college football. A huge portion of that recruitment involves recruiting prospects from high school and other programs.

On Monday during an appearance on the "Pat McAfee Show," Belichick who has considerable NIL support heartily revealed that he had hit the recruitment trail hard. He outlined the steps he and his staff have undertaken to bolster the Tar Heels' roster.

"We've been talking to a number of players and we have more coming in this week as part of the [transfer] portal. That closes on Sunday," Belichick said. "We have guys coming in pretty much every day this week. Still talking to a couple of high school players who signed.

"The majority of them are transfer players in the portal and that portal will extend a little bit as the College Football Playoffs go and teams get eliminated," Belichick said. "We're selling the program but quite honestly, we've had a lot of players and agents coming to us and say, 'We want to be part of the program,' 'Is there a spot for us?' 'Would you take this player, that player?' and so forth.'"

Belichick got an early win as coach of North Carolina when the top-ranked commit, quarterback Bryce Baker reaffirmed his commitment to the program last Saturday. According to 'Rivals,' Baker is the No. 7 ranked quarterback nationally and the No. 3 prospect in North Carolina.

The flexible transfer portal has revolutionized college football and coaches like Colorado Buffaloes' Deion Sanders have used it to devastating effect to quickly upscale their teams. Bill Belichick has the weight of expectations on his shoulders and one of the areas he will be judged on is his recruitment.