Massive DT Viliami Moala commits to Bill Belichick and North Carolina

North Carolina landed a commitment from prized defensive tackle Viliami Moala on Friday.

The massive 6-foot-2 1/2, 340-pound Moala becomes commit No. 34 for head coach Bill Belichick and his staff in the 2026 recruiting cycle.

Moala is a former Oregon commit who decommitted from the Ducks in early July. Other programs that offered included Miami, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah.

As a junior for Bingham High in Utah, Moala was a force, racking up 99 tackles, 22 stops for loss, 12.5 sacks and 35 more quarterback hurries. He’ll play his senior season at Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson.

Moala has many of the traits coveted on the interior of the defensive line and ranks as the Rivals Industry’s No. 42 defensive lineman.

North Carolina hitting big at key positions in the 2026 class

North Carolina offered Moala in March. Senior Associate Director of Player Personnel Chris Jones was the lead recruiter and defensive line coach Bob Diaco was impactful as well.

Defensive line was a priority for Belichick in the Tar Heels in the 2026 cycle. Moala joins four-star defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin has two massive, 330-pound plus point of attack players that can help control the interior of the line of scrimmage. Katy (Texas) Jordan’s Jimmy Alo-Suliafu is another disruptive player and David Jackson out of powerhouse Olney (Md.) Good Counsel David Jackson is another they’re excited about around Chapel Hill.

Moving forward North Carolina aims to add a couple more to this exciting class as they work to flip four-star tight end Carson Sneed from Tennessee and add four-star athlete CJ Sadler out of Detroit. Both are trending to the Tar Heels on the Rivals Prediction Machine.

For more on the Tar Heels recruiting efforts as they aim to close the class strong click here. In addition to defensive line recruiting, Belichick and his staff have landed their top targets at quarterback. More on that here.