UNC football’s QB room makeover highlights Heels’ transfer portal activity

North Carolina football lost a significant portion of its roster to the transfer portal this winter as Bill Belichick heads into his second season in Chapel Hill.

The 15-day winter portal window opened Jan. 2 and closed Friday. While schools can continue to sign players already in the portal, UNC’s core work is, likely, nearing its end.

UNC unofficially lost 29 players to the portal, including its starting quarterback, multiple defensive starters and several more players who saw heavy snap counts in 2025. Linebacker Khmori House (Arkansas), edge rusher Tyler Thompson (Louisville), quarterback Gio Lopez (Wake Forest), defensive linemen C.J. Mims (Texas A&M) and D’Antre Robinson (portal) were among the most notable departures.

Despite the attrition, UNC added many transfers with Power Five experience — part of an approach seemingly focused on rebuilding the offense and the trenches after a 4-8 season in Belichick’s debut year.

Quarterback, offense headline UNC’s portal haul

UNC’s most important additions came at quarterback, where Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. is expected to compete for the starting job. Edwards, a sixth-year senior, made 11 starts at Maryland in 2024 and threw for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns before injuries derailed his lone season at Wisconsin.

Belichick also added Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill, a former four-star prospect with elite arm strength, giving UNC experience and more depth at a position left thin after the departure of Lopez, as well as Max Johnson and Bryce Baker.

The Tar Heels were also aggressive at the skill positions. Wisconsin wide receiver Trech Kekahuna brings familiarity with Edwards after playing together in Madison, while Elon transfer Mason Humphrey adds size to a receiver room that lost seven players to the portal plus Kobe Paysour to graduation.

Tight end was another emphasis. UNC added Texas transfer Jordan Washington, former Clemson and Florida State tight end Jelani Thurman, and Colorado State transfer Jaxxon Warren, reshaping a position group that lost Jake Johnson to Auburn.

Building through the trenches

UNC leaned heavily into offensive line reinforcements after struggling mightily up front in 2025. Arkansas transfer Jac’Qawn McRoy, a 6-foot-8, 370-pound tackle, brings immediate size and upside, while Baylor transfer Sean Thompkins logged significant snaps last season and provides experience.

Clemson transfer Rowan Byrne and Charleston Southern’s Andrew Threatt give the Tar Heels numbers and more flexibility along the interior.

Defensively, the emphasis seemed less about replacing stars and more about rebuilding depth. Penn State transfer Jaylen Harvey and Florida transfer Tarvorise Brown add size to the defensive line rotation, while Richmond linebacker Peyton Seelmann and Georgia native Derek McDonald provide experience at linebacker after UNC lost House, Thompson and Mikai Gbayor.

Michigan State transfer Ade Willie is the lone defensive back addition at the time of publication, joining a secondary that was hit particularly hard by portal losses.

Overall: mixed results

UNC’s transfer class does not rank among the ACC’s elite in star power, sliding in at No. 8 in the conference per 247Sports.

Belichick seemed to prioritize familiarity. Kekahuna reunites with Edwards, and several transfers arrive with familiarity with Bobby Petrino, and/or prior experience in pro-style or NFL-adjacent systems — a hallmark of Belichick’s approach.

The downside is on defense, where UNC lost proven production and has yet to replace it with the same level of experience. Thompson, House and Gbayor were among the Tar Heels’ most productive defenders in 2025, and their exits leave questions that may not be fully answered until fall camp — or the start of the season.

This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 5:30 AM.