QB recruit Bryce Baker talks with Bill Belichick, stays with UNC

Four-star quarterback Bryce Baker, after speaking with new North Carolina coach Bill Belichick, will sign with his home-state Tar Heels on Dec. 18, the high school senior told ESPN on Saturday.

Baker verbally committed in June 2023 to North Carolina and then-head coach Mack Brown, who was fired at the end of the regular season. Baker didn't sign with the Tar Heels during the early signing period Dec. 4-6 and reportedly communicated with Penn State and LSU as UNC searched for its next head coach, which became Belichick on Wednesday. Baker had made an official visit to Penn State on Nov. 30.

A phone call with Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl champion coach during his long, dominant tenure with the New England Patriots, led Baker to stick with UNC. He liked Belichick's vision as a professional program at the college level.

"Their experience in the NFL is huge," Baker told ESPN. "They've been on the level that I'm trying to get to. I feel like that separates them from a lot of other schools. They want to develop me, and they know the intricacies that will help me get to my goals. I feel like (Belichick) will bring in the right pieces to build around me. They're going to make me a priority."

Listed at 6-foot-2 1/2 and 195 pounds, Baker is the No. 80 player in the country, the No. 8 quarterback and the No. 3 player in North Carolina in the 247Sports composite rankings for the Class of 2025.

He passed for more than 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns with four interceptions and six rushing TDs his senior season at East Forsyth High in Kernersville, N.C.

Baker said that after signing, he will enroll at North Carolina in January and play for a coaching staff different from the one to which he initially made his commitment. Belichick, 72, signed a five-year contract with UNC after having no college coaching experience. His 333 wins as an NFL coach (including playoffs) are 15 short of breaking the all-time record held by Don Shula.

"I have to trust that he'll bring in the right pieces and the right staff to help me out as far as having success," Baker said. "I want to get developed and be as prepared as possible so when the opportunity comes, I'm ready to seize it."

--Field Level Media