CONGRATULATIONS: South Carolina managers Hayes Fawcett of On3.com transfers from inside the portal. Cox appears as the third portal added by the new head coach.

North Carolina football just secured a massive victory over its southern neighbor South Carolina. All thanks to a poaching attempt by new head coach Bill Belt chick.

The Tar Heels lured in former Gamecocks tight end Connor Cox Wednesday, per transfer portal insider Hayes Fawcett of On3.com. Cox emerges as the third portal addition through the new head coach. However, he becomes a significant portal recruiting coup for Belichick.

The eight-time Super Bowl winner now adds a future weapon for an offense known for stellar tight end play. Belichick won three Super Bowls turning to Rob Gronkowski at TE. Cox brings near identical size to Gronkowski at 6-foot-6, 240-pounds.

Cox originally committed to South Carolina for the 2022 class. He arrived as an out-of-state talent from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. Now, UNC and Belichick keep him in the Carolinas — except now Cox is in Carolina blue.

Who else has Bill Belichick added to North Carolina football? 

Belichick is off and running with utilizing the portal. Except Cox becomes his first addition from a power conference, as he’ll leave the Southeastern Conference for the Atlantic Coast Conference. The towering TE is now Belichick’s first offensive skill position addition.