Fair or not, North Carolina’s 2025 season came with built-in excuses. Bill Belichick arrived too late last offseason to fully build the roster the way he wanted. That’s not the case now.
This time around, the Tar Heels had a full year to shape the team through the transfer portal and recruiting. So as training camp approaches, the conversation shifts from roster-building to the players who are supposed to make it work. And there are a couple of names worth sorting through.
One of the clearest places where the opportunity has opened up is in the backfield. North Carolina used a three-man rotation at running back in 2025, but Davion Gause is now out of the picture, and that clears the runway for June to step in as the lead option. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound back put up 464 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 84 carries last season, and he also added 159 receiving yards and a touchdown on 17 catches.
The buzz around him is real enough. Earlier this week, wide receiver Jordan Shipp called June a breakout candidate, and that kind of talk makes sense with a bigger role now available. The expectation here is that June can take a noticeable leap, becoming a stronger force in the run game while still giving North Carolina something useful as a pass-catching complement.
The quarterback situation, though, is a different story. The word around Chapel Hill is that the Wisconsin transfer is expected to be the Week 1 starter when camp opens, and North Carolina will still hold an open competition. Edwards Jr. may be the favorite, but I’m not buying him as the answer.
Across four college seasons - three at Maryland and one at Wisconsin - the 6-foot-3, 227-pound quarterback has thrown for 3,430 yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 375 yards and 13 scores, while completing 62.1 percent of his passes.
That line doesn’t move me. And even with Travis Burgess lacking experience, North Carolina would be better off starting him at quarterback to begin the season.
In Other News...
UNC Camp Opens With A Stunning Belichick Era Shakeup
UNCs camp opened with an unexpected front-office jolt, as football general manager Michael Lombardi was placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately, according to a university announcement. The school said staff and athletes are not allowed to discuss the matter, and emphasized that the leave does not reflect on Lombardis merits, adding an unusual layer of silence around a program already under a national spotlight.
Lombardi arrived in Chapel Hill ahead of the 2025 season on a three-year deal and quickly became one of the central figures in Bill Belichicks college transition, bringing a long NFL background with him. His role had already made him a prominent voice in the Tar Heels rebuilding effort, so the timing of this move leaves a major question hanging over a staff that was supposed to be settling into its next phase. [Read more 🡒]
Another UNC Football Investigation Clouds A Crucial Belichick Moment
UNC football is dealing with another off-field jolt after the university placed general manager Michael Lombardi on administrative leave following a human resources complaint from a former employee. The move adds another layer of uncertainty around a program that has already been navigating scrutiny beyond the field, and it comes at a time when the Tar Heels are trying to stabilize a football operation built around a high-profile new structure.
Bill Belichick remains under contract as head coach, but the timing only sharpens the stakes around his first season in Chapel Hill. UNC is also under investigation by the College Sports Commission, the group that oversees NCAA compliance tied to revenue sharing and NIL deals, and the program now has multiple fronts to manage as questions swirl around its football leadership and what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Another Belichick Era Problem Just Hit UNC Before Opening Week
North Carolinas football reset under Bill Belichick was already carrying plenty of pressure before the opening week arrived, and the program has now been forced to deal with another distraction off the field. The Tar Heels are trying to stabilize a roster and build momentum after last seasons 4-8 finish, while also selling a new direction on the recruiting trail, where the 2027 class is sitting in the middle of the pack.
Mike Lombardis status adds another layer of uncertainty to a staff that was supposed to project order and urgency. The investigation is still ongoing, and with the season about to begin, UNC is left navigating both the optics and the practical questions of how this affects the structure around Belichick in the short term and beyond. [Read more 🡒]