4-star WR picks Tar Heels over South Carolina, Georgia

North Carolina football sustained one massive roster loss in quarterback Taron Dickens. But head coach Bill Belichick and UNC made up for it by landing a new four-star Saturday. Wide receiver Amare Patterson rises as the Tar Heels’ latest College Football Recruiting win.

Patterson revealed his decision to join the Heels via Hayes Fawcett of On3/Rivals. The 6-foot-1 wideout turns down South Carolina, Georgia and Georgia Tech in the process.

Patterson emerges as a local win for the past Super Bowl winning head coach. He stars for Ridgeland High in South Carolina and became a Southeastern Conference target.

ESPN listed Patterson as the state’s No. 2 overall talent. Fellow national recruiting outlet 247Sports places him at No. 5. Rivals Industry rankings plugs him seventh overall among Palmetto State recruits.

Although Belichick and his coaching staff needed to ignite a late recruiting push to land Patterson. UNC offered in early June but swiftly won over the speedy weapon. He pulled back the curtain on why the Heels immediately won him over with Chad Simmons of On3/Rivals.

“My confidence in North Carolina only grew after spending time around Coach Belichick and the staff. It feels good to play for a proven winner. I feel like they’re doing something special over there, and I want to be a part of it,” he told Simmons, while adding he likes Belichick’s laid-back attitude but presents an intense side when on the field.

Patterson becomes a significant and needed offseason win for UNC and Belichick. The latter got criticized for losing 2025 QB Gio Lopez, plus is looking to convince UNC fans his team can improve from the 4-8 disaster debut.