UNC Football 2026 Position Review: Wide Receivers

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Catching up? You can find the QB review here and the running back review here.

Three seasons ago, UNC fielded one of its best offenses ever, with its best quarterback ever. Last season was one of the worst offenses UNC’s ever put on the field. Talk about whiplash.

A look back at opponent-adjusted metrics: offense

Drake Maye. Then Jacolby Criswell. Then Freddie Kitchens and Gio Lopez.

Being a pass catcher on last year’s team was an ordeal. UNC ranked 15th in the ACC in pass attempts, 14th in completions, and last in touchdowns through the air. Only Virginia Tech gained fewer yards throwing the ball. To make matters even worse for the wide receivers, 20% of the completions went to running backs.

And then Jordan Shipp found himself in a dream.

Remember those SAT analogies that were finally proven to be an errant testing instrument? For those readers who never experienced one of them, here’s an example:

“WR1 in a Freddie Kitchens offense is to WR1 in a Bobby Petrino offense” would be most similar to:

• A) “a desolate rock in the Arctic Circle to a beach in Hawaii”
• B) “a Motel 8 to a Ritz Carlton”
• C) “prison gruel to a meal at Osteria Georgi”
• D) all of the above

To be clear, Petrino doesn’t run a pass-heavy offense. His run-pass ratio at Texas A&M, with Max Johnson and Connor Weigman at QB, was 35:32. At Arkansas, with athletic cheat code Taylen Green at QB, the splits were 38:32 (2025) and 34:32 (2024). If you looked at those numbers and our 2026 personnel to extrapolate around 32 pass attempts game, which would be two or three more than last season, that would be fair.

However, Petrino gets far more out of his passing game than most, and Petrino’s WR1 usually benefits the most. At Arkansas in 2024, lead receiver Andrew Armstrong accounted for 78 receptions and 1,140 yards, 30% and 32% of team totals. Interestingly, Armstrong only logged one of Arkansas’ 16 passing touchdowns, as Petrino used Armstrong primarily to move chains (51 receptions for 1st downs) and get chunks (14 catches for 25+ yards). Once inside the red zone, Petrino used the defensive attention on Armstrong to create space for others. In a WR room otherwise filled with potential rather than production, Shipp could find himself a “Stud” in Petrino’s “FTS” (Feed The Studs) offense.

Shipp might be the best receiver Petrino’s had to work with in his last four stops. The fact that Shipp managed to show out last season despite everything going wrong around him speaks volumes. Hands, body control, awareness, clear evidence of dedication to his craft in route precision and release techniques — Shipp’s the guy on offense most likely to be playing on Sundays, perhaps as soon as next season. His “traits” are good, but Shipp’s one of those players who blends each of his discrete measurables into a sum exceeding the total of the parts.

Seeing what Shipp and Petrino might accomplish together is something to look forward to.

Who lines up on the other side?

Whether in 11, 12, or 13 personnel (one, two, or three tight ends), Shipp’s the guy who will be in all the offensive packages. Competition to be the guy lining up on the other side of the field, when the situations calls for it, comes down to three candidates.

This year’s transfer: from FCS Lehigh, Mason Humphrey, 6’4”, 215

Humphrey belongs in the “looks the part, maybe coaching can turn him into the real deal” category. Physically, Mason fits the mold of the tall guy on the boundary whose stride can eat up yards in a hurry and whose length can beat safeties for jump balls. In three years at Lehigh, Humphrey was a mismatch for most FCS corners, and the tape shows a player content to win reps on that alone. Earning the WR spot opposite Shipp requires Humphrey to have done a lot of work on releases, route precision, and blocking since he arrived in Chapel Hill. That last one can’t be overlooked. Both Petrino and Belichick require the outside receivers to handle their blocking assignments, and it’s not something Lehigh demanded of Mason. It’s also worth noting that Humphrey was not the leading receiver at Lehigh last year. His 35 catches for 651 yards trailed Geoffrey Jamiel at 78 receptions for 1,067. However, UNC recruited Mason for a reason, and that’s to contribute this year if he can accept the coaching and develop.

Last year’s transfer: Nathan Leacock, 6’3”, 217

A transfer from Tennessee last season, Leacock physically resembles Humphrey, a straight line vertical threat with a big catch radius. If the last thing you remember about Leacock is his fumble on the goal line against California, there’s a reason for that — he logged 1 catch in the next game against Virginia and then registered no more stats the rest of the season. A play like that can alter the trajectory of a player within the program, and Leacock seems to have slipped down the pecking order. On the plus side, Leacock’s been competing against P4 competition his entire career, compared to Humphrey’s FCS background. A willing blocker, Leacock could win this spot if he’s improved his blocking technique and hands. Oh, and ball security.

New kid on the block: Carnell Warren, 6’3”, 208

Warren comes to UNC as a four star recruit via On3 and ESPN. His senior year production of 62 catches for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns earned him Under Armor All-America honors, and camp observers say he stands out physically among his peers. Warren being mentioned here stems primarily from potential dissatisfaction down the road with Humphrey and Leacock. Those two will be given first shot at securing the top spot in the depth chart, but Warren has the physical tools to challenge if the other two falter. That said, a quick review of Petrino’s three offenses at Arkansas and Texas A&M show freshmen receivers totaling 21 total catches by 10 different guys. Petrino requires a level of precision from his receivers that most true freshmen can’t deliver. On the other hand, Belichick’s program invested heavily in this recruiting class, both money and hype, and it needs some of those recruits to flash. That fact raises Warren’s chances if neither Humphrey nor Leacock distinguish themselves.

Who lines up at slot?

The transfer: from Wisconsin, Trech Kekahuna, 5’10”, 185

Kekahuna last season worked during spring practice and fall camp with transfer QB Billy Edwards. In his three years in Madison, Trech amassed 55 catches for 614 yards and two touchdowns. Wisconsin also used Trech as a rushing threat last season, carrying 14 times for 129 yards and a touchdown. A fourth year player, Kekahuna provides experience and physical maturity at the position. Slot receiver requires exact routes and consistent hands to be effective over the middle, where small mistakes can turn into tipped balls and turnovers. UNC brought in Kekahuna to lead the position while some talented younger players develop behind him.

New kid on the block: CJ Sadler, 5’9”, 183

The foremost among those talented younger players would be Sadler, a four star recruit and the second highest rated player overall in Michigan. Sadler displayed elite athleticism in high school, playing cornerback and kick returner in addition to wide receiver. CJ during his senior season totaled 2,536 all-purpose yards and 32 touchdowns, adding a reported 87 tackles (!) and three interceptions on defense. Recruiting services rated him a legitimate prospect on both sides of the ball. Expect Sadler to compete for return duties, and his ability to absorb the full responsibilities of a slot receiver — route precision, reading defenses, blocking — will determine whether or not his role expands in the offense over the course of the season. In an offense that wants to feed the studs, CJ has rare physical abilities to achieve stud status quickly. As noted above, Petrino has used true freshmen receivers sparingly in recent years, but Sadler’s elite athleticism may get him on the field earlier than most. Also, Shanard Clower, who played in nine games last season as a true freshman and started in the slot against Cal and Duke, left the team after spring practice. Sadler’s presence may have had something to do with that.

Other names to know

Madrid Tucker, 5’10”, 170

For an offensive coordinator that prizes vertical speed, Tucker’s potential stands out. A true freshman last season, Tucker made his biggest splash in the wrong way. He bobbled a sideline catch against Virginia late in the 3rd quarter on the UVA five yard line, turning at worst a short FG attempt into a turnover. That game was the last we saw of Tucker for the season, as he took a redshirt. The fact Tucker featured so prominently in that Virginia game plan (8 catches for 41 yards) means coaches saw real potential in him and probably still do. After a full year of maturing, Tucker’s a real candidate to earn a lot of snaps as part of the rotation. If he produces with those opportunities, Madrid could rise up the depth chart.

Kymistrii Young, 6’2”, 192

Another member of UNC’s massive 2026 recruiting class, Young flipped his commitment from Purdue to UNC. A three star prospect from Florida, Young played for 2A state champion Cardinal Mooney as an outside receiver. In addition to the speed necessary to be a dangerous vertical threat, Young showed some advanced route running ability, rather than solely running by people. However, 2A competition remains 2A competition, even in Florida, and once again, a true freshman would have to make major strides in spring ball and fall camp to earn Petrino’s trust for even limited opportunities.

Where did they go?

Among those who caught at least one ball last year:

• Kobe Paysour (2025’s second leading receiver): graduation
• Javarious Green (2025’s third leading receiver): Boston College
• Shanard Clower (2025’s fourth leading receiver): left team after spring practice
• Chris Culliver: Marshall
• Alex Taylor: Georgia Southern
• Aziah Johnson: left team midseason, destination unknown

Best Case, Worst Case

These eight receivers represent UNC’s most likely contributors, in order of likelihood:

• One certified stud: Shipp
• One proven P4 contributor: Kekahuna
• Two fourth year ”now or never” projects: Humphrey or Leacock
• A second year player who earned some snaps last season: Tucker
• Three true freshman: Sadler, Warren, Kymistrii.

In that sense, the WR room resembles a few other position groups on this team. The number of players with potential outnumber the proven performers. Given the number of question marks among those eight, depth should be a concern. If either Shipp or Kekahuna should be injured, depth goes from concern to problem.

UNC invested heavily in the tight end department, both recruiting and portal, for this season (more on that Monday’s TE review). More tight ends on the field means fewer wide receivers, which mitigates depth concerns in this room to a degree. The receivers below Shipp and Kekahuna are competing for playing time with with the tight ends as much as each other. Check back Monday to see why.

Best case: The offensive line and QB position gel, allowing the passing offense to attack all three levels of the field. Shipp logs 1,000+ yards catching balls all over the field. The other wide out spot requires a safety over the top, creating all sorts of room for Kekahuna. Passing yardage, including running backs and tight ends, increases more than 1,000 yards over last season, while passing TDs double from 13 to 26.

Worst case: Injuries create leaks in the offensive line and also force some young pass catchers into service too early. The offense becomes increasingly risk-averse and predictable as Belichick reverts to his NFL comfort zone of trying to win games in the low 20s on the last possession. The passing game never looks as discombobulated as last season, but a tougher schedule and injuries prove too much for a position group this young and unproven outside of Shipp and Kekahuna.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos