Which Triangle football players kept NFL dreams alive with free agent deals?
Two players from local FBS football programs heard their names called in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they are not the only players seeking a spot on an NFL team.
The Los Angeles Chargers selected North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton as the No. 22 pick in the draft. The Green Bay Packers selected N.C. State offensive tackle Anthony Belton as the 57th overall pick in the second round.
Though they were the only players selected in the three-day event, 16 players signed undrafted free agent contracts after the draft and will attend rookie camp in hopes of making a roster.
UNC led the way with free-agent signees. Nine players signed agreements with NFL teams. Four N.C. State players and three Duke players signed rookie camp contracts.
Here are the players who look to continue their football careers in the league.
Duke NFL free agents
Joshua Pickett, DB, Denver Broncos: Pickett finished his four-year Duke career with 16 pass breakups and two interceptions. He also added 101 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Pickett’s eight passes defended in 2024 ranked No. 3 on the team, tied with Jaylen Stinson.
Eli Pancol, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Pancol played five seasons with the Blue Devils. He recorded 1,710 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. Pancol scored a career-high nine touchdowns in 2024, which led the Blue Devils. He also ranked No. 2 on the team for receiving yards (798) after recording two 100-yard games. He had 188 yards and three touchdowns against Virginia Tech.
Jordan Moore, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: Moore played four seasons for Duke where he finished with 2,352 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. In 2024, Moore averaged 15.6 yards per catch. Early in his career, Moore was used in the run game and contributed 256 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Moore led the team last season with 861 receiving yards, including two 100-yard games, and added eight touchdowns.
NC State NFL free agents
Jordan Waters, RB, Los Angeles Rams: Waters spent five years at Duke before transferring to N.C. State as a graduate student. Waters contributed 2,160 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in his six-year college career. Waters added 481 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver. The Fairmont native’s best season came in 2023 at Duke, when he notched 819 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in averaging 63 yards per game. In 2024, he had two 100-yard games, but the remaining were under 40 yards.
Aydan White, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars: White played five seasons for the Wolfpack and was a major contributor on defense. White recorded 160 tackles, 31 pass breakups and nine interceptions, including a pair of pick-sixes. He had nine tackles in two games and was No. 4 on the team in 2024 with 59.
Zeke Correll, OL, Minnesota Vikings: Correll played five seasons at Notre Dame before transferring to N.C. State. He ranks No. 35 among 301 centers for the 2024 season, earning a 72.7 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. It was his most efficient season as a collegiate player. Correll was most successful in the pass block, earning a 79.6, but still finished with a 70 in the run block.
Timothy McKay, OL, Washington Commanders: McKay, originally from Raleigh, was a six-year player for N.C. State. He ranked No. 96 out of 639 guards in the nation, scoring a 70.5 overall offense grade on PFF. He finished just above 73.1 in the pass block, where he had the most success in 2024. McKay has struggled with consistency during his career but finished with his best overall season in the fall.
UNC NFL free agents
Desmond Evans, DL, Tennessee Titans: Evans was a five-year Tar Heel, recording 124 tackles and nine sacks. He added seven pass breakups in his career. PFF gave Evans a 67.5 overall defensive grade. He finished with a 68.7 in his run defense and pass rush. He was most successful with a 72 in coverage. Though he was not the most explosive defender, Evans was relatively consistent in his final three years of play.
Jahvaree Ritzie, DL, New England Patriots: Ritzie played four seasons for UNC on the defensive line, where he earned a 63.4 defensive grade, according to PFF. He contributed 138 tackles, nine sacks and three passes defended. Ritzie scored one time in his career, coming in the Tar Heels’ 41-14 win over Virginia, when he ran the ball into the end zone on an interception return.
Nate McCollum, WR, New York Giants: McCollum played three seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to UNC. He finished with 1,521 receiving yards and five touchdowns, while contributing 104 rushing yards and two scores. McCollum was Carolina’s primary kickoff return player in 2024, contributing 448 yards on special teams.
John Copenhaver, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Copenhaver was a five-year player at UNC and had his best year in 2024. The graduate student finished with 924 receiving yards, including 414 taking place in the fall, and nine touchdowns. He ranked No. 2 on the team for receiving yards.
JJ Jones, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Jones played four years with the Tar Heels. He ended his career with 1,794 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Jones led the team in receiving yards (582) and receiving touchdowns (6), contributing 44.8 yards per game. His best performance in 2024 took place against Virginia, when Jones accounted for 129 yards on five receptions and two touchdowns. His most productive year came in 2023. Jones recorded 711 receiving yards and three touchdowns, averaging nearly 54.7 yards per game.
Bryson Nesbit, TE, Minnesota Vikings: Nesbit also spent four years on the Carolina offense. He contributed 1,510 receiving yards in his career and 13 touchdowns. He was most successful during the 2023 season, when he contributed 585 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged just under 49 yards per game.
Alijah Huzzie, DB, Houston Texans: Huzzie spent four seasons at East Tennessee State before transferring to UNC. He recorded 258 tackles, two sacks, 59 passes defended and 16 interceptions during his career. Huzzie recorded four interceptions with the Tar Heels. Huzzie racked up eight tackles in the Tar Heels’ win over Wake Forest in November.
Power Echols, LB, Chicago Bears: Echols was one of the Tar Heels’ most consistent defenders during his four-year career. He finished with 307 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 13 passes defended — including one pick-six — and three forced fumbles. In 2024, Echols had five games with at least eight tackles and one 12-tackle game in the loss to Georgia Tech.
Willie Lampkin, OL, Los Angeles Rams: Lampkin finished the season as one of the best guards in the nation, ranking No. 5 out of 639 guards, according to PFF. He scored an 85.6 overall grade, including an 88.8 in the pass block and 87.6 in the run block. Lampkin’s finish at No. 5 was his best performance of his career.
