St. Frances Academy (Md.) four-star linebacker DQ Forkpa had multiple twists and turns in his recruitment, but he came to a decision on Friday. The Hoschton, Ga. native has committed to North Carolina.
Forkpa chose the Tar Heels after taking an official visit to Chapel Hill last weekend. Missouri and Maryland were other programs that emerged this fall, while the likes of Florida, Michigan and Florida State were previously in the mix for his pledge this summer.
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“Really good opportunity to come in and play early,” Forkpa told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong about his decision. “Also having coach Belichick to vouch for me and say I’m a guy to NFL scouts is a huge plus.”
He is the No. 316 overall prospect and No. 19 LB in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 8 recruit in Maryland.
Forkpa was previously planning to commit in the summer and Florida was the program trending. Just a couple days prior to his decision, though, he opted to back off and hit the reset button. He then moved from IMG Academy (Fla.) to St. Frances for his senior season.
Mizzou had some momentum with the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder after he took an OV to Columbia in September. But UNC emerged, too. He had previously visited this season, arrived to Chapel Hill for his official last weekend and is now in the boat for Bill Belichick a week later.
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UNC has humongous 2026 class
North Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class, somehow, continues to grow. The addition of Forkpa brings the pledge list up to 29 names with the December signing period less than five weeks away.
Belichick and Co. continue to add to the class and now have 11 blue-chippers in the mix. The class checks in at No. 16 nationally, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
Detroit Cass Tech four-star athlete CJ Sadler pledged in August and sits atop the class as the No. 131 overall prospect and top-ranked recruit in Michigan. He’s a true two-way star that could make a serious impact early for the ACC program.
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Sadler could join Jackson (Ala.) four-star wide receiver Keeyun Chapman and Bluffton (S.C.) four-star WR Carnell Warren on the offense side, or flank Miami Norland four-star cornerback Kenton Dopson and Avon (Ohio) four-star safety Jakob Weatherspoon in the secondary.
Loganville (Ga.) Grayson four-star quarterback Travis Burgess entered the fold in May and saw his stock rise before a season-ending injury this fall. Still, he has UNC fans excited about the future and is now the No. 14 QB in the cycle.
Other blue-chippers in the fold include: Mount Olive (N.C.) North Duplin four-star defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin, Winston Salem (N.C.) East Forsyth four-star offensive tackle J.B. Shabazz, Houston Cy Ranch four-star linebacker Calvin Thomas and Rolesville (N.C.) four-star EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes.
