Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller three-star tight end Cooper McCutchan has decommitted from North Carolina, he announced on Wednesday evening.
He was pledged to Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels since May 7. McCutchan is the second prospect to decommit from UNC today, following three-star wide receiver Kei’Maurii Miles.
“After much consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided to decommit from North Carolina and reopen my recruitment process,” McCutchan wrote on X announcing his decision. “I want to sincerely thank everyone at UNC (coaches, staff, and other commits) and I am grateful for the relationships I’ve built. I look forward to exploring new opportunities and continuing my athletic, academic, and personal growth.”
He is the No. 71 tight end and No. 50 player in Ohio in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He checks in as the No. 1,131 prospect overall.
Before choosing the Tar Heels in May, McCutchan had also reported offers from Kentucky, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Washington and others. His decision leaves UNC with one tight end — Nashville DCA three-star Carson Sneed — in its jam-packed 2026 class.
McCutchan plays for one of the most notable high school football programs in Ohio. Archbishop Moeller is currently 7-3 ahead of playoff action and ranks as the No. 5 team in Ohio and No. 102 team nationally, per the Rivals Composite Rankings.
UNC still has massive 2026 class
Despite losing pledges from Miles and McCutchan, North Carolina still has the biggest recruiting class in the cycle by a wide margin with 37 total commits. There’s 11 blue-chippers in the class. Jackson (Ala.) four-star Keeyun Chapman and Bluffton (S.C.) four-star Carnell Warren make for a dynamic wide receiver duo.
Chapman and Warren are the No. 19 and No. 49 receivers in the cycle, respectively. The top-ranked commit in the class remains Detroit Cass Tech four-star athlete CJ Sadler, who could line up on either side of the ball for the Tar Heels. He’s the No. 131 recruit overall. Loganville (Ga.) Grayson four-star quarterback Travis Burgess committed in May and is now the No. 14 QB in the nation.
The secondary room will be quite loaded in Chapel Hill once this class makes its way to campus, too. Nine listed defensive backs are currently committed, with Miami Norland four-star cornerback Kenton Dopson and Avon (Ohio) four-star safety Jakob Weatherspoon leading the way. Dopson flipped from Miami, while Weatherspoon flipped from Ohio State.
Belichick and Co. have flipped myriad prospects this cycle, including: Dopson, Weatherspoon, four-star defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin, four-star offensive tackle J.B. Shabazz and Sneed. The class currently ranks No. 16 in the nation, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.