A 3‑star offensive line prospect, Will Conroy, has withdrawn his commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners and instead pledged to North Carolina. He had originally committed to Oklahoma on December 16, 2024, choosing the Sooners over schools like Oregon, Texas A&M, and Missouri (si.com).
Conroy, a 6′3″, 295‑pound interior offensive lineman from Bradenton, Florida (previously listed as from Cleveland, Ohio) in the class of 2026, made the switch official on June 18, 2025 (si.com). The flip was first reported by On3’s Hayes Fawcett, with Conroy adding a poetic touch:
“If God wasn’t a Tar Heel why did he make the sky Carolina blue? Go Heels!” (si.com).
He had even taken an unofficial visit to UNC back in January, meeting new head coach Bill Belichick (si.com). Belichick, a six‑time Super Bowl champion leader of the New England Patriots, starts his first season with the Tar Heels in 2025 .
Conroy’s departure leaves the Sooners with just one offensive line commit in their 2026 class: Noah Best, another interior lineman who committed on June 9. Before Conroy’s decommitment, Oklahoma’s 2026 recruiting class was ranked No. 35 by 247Sports; now they sit around No. 37 (si.com).
Despite the setback, Oklahoma have ten commits in the Class of 2026—seven of them 4‑star prospects, including promising names at linebacker, quarterback, receiver, tight end, defensive line, and safety (si.com).
🧭 What This Means
- Recruiting momentum shift: Losing Conroy is a blow to OU’s front‑court depth, but they’ve still secured a solid class overall.
- Tar Heels get a boost: NC bolsters their line ahead of Belichick’s inaugural season—Conroy’s flip is a recruiting win for South Bend.
- Recruiting rankings: OU dropped a couple of spots nationally but remain firmly in contention, thanks to their cadre of 4‑star pledges.
🔜 Outlook for Oklahoma
Now with only one internal offensive line commit, Oklahoma looks to Noah Best to anchor their 2026 O‑line class. They’ll likely intensify efforts to land additional linemen, particularly in the post‑Conroy landscape. Meanwhile, the Sooners remain well‑positioned, still drawing strong talent and maintaining top‑40 class status.
Let me know if you’d like a breakdown of other recruiting classes, coaching staff reactions, or how Belichick’s presence at UNC is reshaping recruitment!
- sportcup.co.uk
