NFL return rumors didn’t stop Bill Belichick from going shopping in the transfer portal of North Carolina.
UConn star defensive lineman Pryce Yates signed with the Tar Heels on Tuesday, according to ESPN, adding to an impressive lineup of transfers for the legendary football coach.
UNC has now earned commitments from 13 players since Belichick took the reins of the program in mid-December.
Yates was limited to seven games for the Huskies this season with a back injury but still recorded 21 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
He starred for UConn during their 27-14 win over UNC in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28, winning the defensive MVP award after recording a sack and three tackles for loss.
Yates’ move comes just over a week after UConn head coach Jim Mora ripped teams for allegedly “tampering” with Huskies players during this round of transfers.
“A simple note to the schools and coaches that have blatantly broken @NCAAFootball rules by tampering with our players in the last 24 hours,” Mora wrote on X. “We do know who you are, we will pursue all avenues to hold you accountable. We are excited that we’ve built a program where coaches have to cheat to beat us and we will protect that program. Think hard before you tamper with our players.”
The transfer news comes after NFL Network reported Wednesday that Belichick had “recently” spoken with Raiders minority owner and former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady about reuniting in Las Vegas.
Brady reportedly asked his former coach “what it would take” to get him to take the Raiders’ head coaching job.
Shortly after the Raiders-Belichick rumors emerged, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the eight-time Super Bowl champion has “no plans” to return to the NFL.
She added Belichick’s “sole focus is on coaching and recruiting” for UNC.
