A new report from Sports Illustrated suggests that Jordon Hudson’s influence may have been instrumental in shaping the outcome…
Top collegiate wrestler A.J. Ferrari, a former NCAA champion, was all poised to join the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) wrestling program for the 2025–26 season. Despite training on campus and committing to the Tar Heels, Ferrari was never allowed to join the team. Instead, he transferred halfway across the country to the University of Nebraska. Nebraska wrestling coach Mark Manning attributed this shift, in no small part, to the involvement of Jordon Hudson, the 24-year-old girlfriend of UNC football coach Bill Belichick.
According to Manning, UNC’s decision not to admit Ferrari was influenced by multiple factors, including Hudson’s presence and recent controversies surrounding the university.
UNC wrestling coach Rob Koll, reportedly disappointed by the admissions decision, reached out to Manning, suggesting that Nebraska consider recruiting Ferrari. This led to Ferrari joining the Cornhuskers, bolstering their already formidable wrestling program.
“Rob Koll… the North Carolina coach who I’ve known for 35 years,” Manning said, “called me up when they didn’t let A.J. into the school at North Carolina. And A.J. was already there training some, and they didn’t let him in admission-wise … for various reasons, and Bill Belichick’s girlfriend had something to do with that…”
The situation may have been further complicated by unrelated incidents at UNC — including a separate case involving a men’s basketball player accused of sexual misconduct — which may have sealed the fate of the already controversial Ferrari, given Hudson’s influence.
Ferrari’s collegiate career has been marked by both athletic success and controversy. He began at Oklahoma State University, where he won a national championship as a freshman. However, his tenure there ended following a sexual assault investigation in 2022. The charges were dropped in 2023, allowing him to continue his career at California State University, Bakersfield, where he placed third at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
While Hudson’s exact role in the admissions decision remains unclear, her association with Belichick, 73, and visibility within UNC’s athletic environment continues to draw scrutiny. Belichick has addressed the situation, stating that Hudson “doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football,” insisting that their relationship is personal and separate from his professional responsibilities.