Tampa’s own Joseph Troupe, a talented running back from Berkeley Prep, has made a big decision. He’s switching his college commitment from Temple to North Carolina, as he announced on Sunday.
Troupe had been committed to Temple since June. But after receiving an offer from head coach Bill Belichick and his team in Chapel Hill, he’s now set to join the Tar Heels.
In the 2025 recruiting class, Troupe is ranked as the No. 102 running back and No. 173 player in Florida according to the On3 Industry Ranking. This ranking is a mix of evaluations from the major recruiting media outlets. Overall, he sits at No. 1,316 nationally.
Now, UNC has snagged five new commitments for 2025 just this January. The coaching staff is keen on bringing in top talent to strengthen their incoming class, and Troupe is a great addition.
At Berkeley Prep, Troupe has been one of the standout players. He’s rushed for over 3,400 yards and scored more than 40 touchdowns during his high school career. Not too shabby! The Buccaneers wrapped up their 2024 season with a 7-5 record.
North Carolina Continues to Beef Up 2025 Class
Just a day before Troupe’s announcement, Lantz Pascal, a linebacker from Fort Lauderdale’s St. Thomas Aquinas, also committed to the Tar Heels. With these latest additions, UNC’s 2025 class now boasts 16 total commits.
January has been a busy month for the Tar Heels. They’ve also welcomed Au’Tori Newkirk, a quarterback from Norfolk, Virginia, and Chinedu Onyeagoro, an EDGE player from Los Angeles. According to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, UNC’s class is now ranked No. 60 nationally and No. 15 in the ACC.
The centerpiece of this class is Bryce Baker, a four-star quarterback from Kernersville, North Carolina. He’s a top-100 recruit and ranks as the No. 10 QB in the nation. Despite the coaching transition from Mack Brown to Belichick, Baker has stayed true to his commitment to UNC.
“I just feel like with Belichick coming in they can provide that next-level development I didn’t have the opportunity to have with other options I was looking at,” Baker told On3. “Belichick coming from the NFL and the first-hand experience he has for what it takes to be the best.”
The 2025 class includes other promising players like Gray’s Javion Butts, a safety from Jones County, Georgia; Byron Nelson, an offensive lineman from Katy, Texas; Evan Haynes, a wide receiver from Roswell, Georgia; and Trey Blue, an offensive tackle from Cary, North Carolina.
As UNC continues to build its team, fans are eager to see how these new recruits will shape the future of Tar Heel football. Who knows, maybe we’ll be talking about their incredible plays in a few years!
