UNC Football Transfer Portal Update

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Let’s start with two players from last season who have confirmed their return to Chapel Hill next season: Jordan Shipp and Melkart Abou-Jaoude. These were the best players on UNC’s offense and defense, respectively. In a bad season, Ship and Abou-Jaoude stood out as playmakers. Perhaps more importantly, both (especially Shipp) appeared to provide crucial leadership when the locker room and season appeared on the brink after a humiliating beat-down by Clemson. Successful football programs require player leadership. The return of these two playmakers should provide an important cornerstone as a new culture tries to take root after the upheaval and disappointment of last season.

College football has one transfer portal window this season. Players may enter their names between January 2 and January 16. Any player who has entered their name by January 16 may then transfer at any time prior afterwards. On the flip side, universities are not required to roster players whose names are in the portal. So, the roster for UNC 2026 will be almost entirely known by next Friday, January 16.

Last month, Tar Heel Blog reviewed the most pressing needs for UNC football heading into transfer season. Where do things stand at the moment?

Quarterback: UNC has secured the services of two new quarterbacks heading into next season, Billy Edwards and Miles O’Neill. Max Johnson and Gio Lopez, who both accounted for almost all of UNC’s snaps at QB last season, have decided to transfer. So has Bryce Baker, the highest rated recruit or transfer on last year’s team. Edwards has one year of eligibility remaining and seems likely the day one starter next season. O’Neill seems the likely back-up, although the possibility remains he thrives in Bobby Petrino’s offensive system and wins the starting job at some point, possibly even by fall camp.

Offensive Line: As noted in the review linked above, UNC lost almost all of its experience on the offensive line to expired eligibility or transfer. So far, UNC has added two new faces to the offensive line room: Andrew Threatt, from Charleston Southern, and Sean Thompkins, from Baylor. Threatt played guard and tackle at Charleston Southern. He projects as a starting guard. Threatt played tackle at Baylor, earning the starting spot during the back half of this season, where he noticeably struggled.

Wide Receiver: Trech Kekahuna transfers from Wisconsin, another program whose offense struggled in the passing department last season. Kekahuna had 26 receptions for 211 yards and projects as a slot receiver last season. Mason Humphrey comes to UNC from Lehigh. He started in every game for the Mountain Hawks, this season averaging 18.6 yards per receptions on 35 catches with four touchdowns. Humphrey is the classic long and tall strider in the mold of Tez Walker or Mack Hollins.

Tight End: Jaxxon Warren spent last season at Colorado State, most of it recovering from an injury suffered early in the season. At 6’8”, Warren can be a difficult matchup as a possession receiver, and his tape suggests he’s a capable blocker. He’ll likely vie for starting reps.

Linebacker: UNC coaches got a good look at Peyton Seelman during last year’s Richmond game. The Richmond Spider earned first team honors in the Patriot League, totaling 120 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2.5 sacks. UNC loses all three starting linebackers from last season as well as some depth, so the room is a total rebuild. Seelman shows great skill at diagnosing plays and being in the right spot. In his tape against Carolina, Seelman was always in the right hole but usually needed help to get June or Hall to the ground.

Defensive Line: Jaylen Harvey spent the last two seasons at Penn State. A 4-star prospect in the 2024 class, he took a redshirt in 2024 before appearing in 11 games this season. He totaled 8 tackles and a sack in limited game action. Tarvorise Brown comes to UNC from Florida, where he walked on after a season at Hutchinson Community College. In his two years with the Gators, Brown totaled 5 tackles while appearing in just three games.

Defensive Back: Ade Willie chose to spend his final year of eligibility playing for Bill Belichick. Willie’s entire college career has been at Michigan State, where he appeared in 30 games over the past four seasons. He started the first four games last season before an injury sidelined him but preserved a redshirt. Michigan State played Willie at both safety and nickelback during his time there.

Notes:

Jonathan Bibbs, WR from Louisiana-Monroe, committed to UNC after a campus visit earlier this week. However, Bibbs apparently changed his mind and opted for the Golden Knights of UCF, making Scott Frost 2-0 against the GOAT.

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