4-star linebacker planning future visit to UNC football program

The UNC football teams needs to showcase immediate improvement in its 2026 season, which begins with an August rematch vs. TCU across the pond.

North Carolina sports a solid recruiting class, highlighted by guys like quarterback Travis Burgess and defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin. The Tar Heels also secured several high-profile transfers, such as quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and linebacker Derek McDonald.

Looking ahead to its 2027 recruiting class, UNC will soon host another highly-touted prospect. On Wednesday, class of 2027 4-star linebacker Jeremiah Culpepper (Troup County High School, LaGrange (GA)) announced he’ll be visiting Chapel Hill.

Culpepper still needs to lock in an official date, but this is a highly-encouraging sign for North Carolina. Right now, Culpepper currently has visits to LSU (May 28-30), Virginia Tech (June 5-7), Ole Miss (June 12-14), Auburn (June 19-21) lined up, with undecided visits also to Tennessee and UNLV.

Culpepper exploded for a breakout junior season, totaling 59 tackles (37 solo), 16 tackles for loss and 12 sacks across 11 games, leading his Tiger teammates to a 10-2 record and a second round State Playoff appearance. In two years as a varsity starter, Culpepper has 107 tackles (67 solo), 24 TFLs and 15 sacks.

4-star LB Jeremiah Culpepper is starting to lock his official dates. A few are schedule and a few are in the works, he tells @247Sports.

More from the Top247 prospect: https://t.co/HaS51oASCBpic.twitter.com/QI8qqO80X6

— Benjamin Wolk (@benjaminwolk) April 29, 2026

Mired in mediocrity, North Carolina made a coaching hire splash with Bill Belichick in December 2024. The Tar Heels turned in a 4-8 season last year, leading many to believe if Belichick was a one-and-done experiment, but the 8-time Super Bowl Champion is getting another crack.

Once UNC officially locks in a Culpepper visit, it’ll have a much clearer picture of its 2027 recruiting class. Already sporting a 4-man class including Charles Roberts, Tasheem Butler, Isaiah Stephens and Skylar Robertson, North Carolina benefits greatly from a future Culpepper addition.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: 4-star linebacker Jeremiah Culpepper to visit UNC football program