Report: Former Western Carolina QB Taron Dickens decommits from UNC
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Taron Dickens, who signed with UNC in February, will not enroll at UNC.
- Inside Carolina first reported that Dickens will re-enter the transfer portal.
- UNC’s 2026 quarterback room will include Billy Edwards Jr.
Quarterback Taron Dickens, the former West Caroline player who signed with UNC out of the transfer portal in February, will not be joining the Tar Heels this fall.
According to multiple reports Friday, including TarHeel247 and Inside Carolina, Dickens will not enroll at North Carolina after all. Inside Carolina had the news first, reporting that Dickens will enter the transfer portal again. This news comes weeks after UNC football wrapped up its spring practice in late April.
North Carolina’s quarterback room for the fall will now consist of Billy Edwards Jr. (Wisconsin transfer, previously played at Maryland), Miles O’Neill (Texas A&M transfer), redshirt freshman Au’Tori Newkirk and incoming freshman and 4-star commit Travis Burgess. Edwards and O’Neill are expected to compete for the starting spot.
“Miles had an outstanding high school career (and) went to Texas A&M and didn’t get a lot of playing time there,” North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said during 2026 spring practice. “Billy Edwards has played a lot. Had a really good year at Maryland in 2024... he’s excited to start here and see what that brings.”
Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, speaking to the media in April, said it will be the coaching staff’s job to mold the offense around what its quarterback does best.
“It’s been fun to watch them and learn it and understand it,” Petrino said.
Petrino predicted that most of the separation in the quarterback battle would emerge in the summer.
“You see growth in the summer in who wants to take charge and who wants to be the leader and make sure everybody else is doing things right,” Petrino said, later adding, “Then we come back in the fall and see how it all plays out.”
UNC kicks off its 2026 slate with a noon start for its Aug 29 rematch with TCU. The Tar Heels and the Horned Frogs will play at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Tickets for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic can be purchased here.