North Carolina’s 2026 roster could get crowded in a hurry, and that means a few projected Tar Heels starters may not stay projected starters for long.
With Bill Belichick heading into what the source describes as a must-win season, Chapel Hill is set up for a sharp kind of roster pressure: freshmen pushing for snaps, incoming transfers competing for jobs, and veterans who may have to hold off challengers all year just to keep their spots. If those jobs slip away, the transfer portal could become the next stop.
One of the clearest examples is Smith. He’s described as one of the Tar Heels’ better returning defenders, but freshman Jakob Weatherspoon is waiting in the wings with an impressive and unique skill set.
That kind of profile makes it hard to keep him sidelined for long, and the source suggests Weatherspoon could be starting by the end of the season. Smith, who has two more years of eligibility, would likely look elsewhere if that happens and seek his third team.
The backfield has a similar feel. Demon June is a talented running back, but in a “prove-it” season, North Carolina is expected to play whoever produces.
If June or any other clear-cut starter isn’t delivering, offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino has options behind him. Benjamin Hall and LSU transfer Kaleb Jackson are both in the mix, and both have the kind of talent that could push June into a tougher decision about his future.
Quarterback is another spot where patience can run thin in the NIL and transfer portal era. The source notes that O'Neill is not a starter, but he could decide he needs a better place to produce at quarterback if he doesn’t play this season. It also says that O'Neill or Au'Tori Newkirk seem like the most likely candidates to transfer from North Carolina if they don’t get on the field.
Leacock is in a similar bind. He’s not currently a starter, but the former blue-chip 4-star recruit from Tennessee is running out of chances and has one season of eligibility left.
North Carolina’s additions of Trech Kekahuna and Mason Humphrey make his path to becoming a major offensive threat even more crowded. If the situation doesn’t break his way, the source says it would not be surprising to see him leave for a better fit at another Power 4 or Group of Five program.
At cornerback, Patterson may have the toughest challenge of all. The source says it would be surprising if he struggled, but the room is getting crowded with Ade Willie added through the portal and 4-star cornerback Kenton Dopson III also in the mix. That could create an ultra-competitive battle in 2026, and if Patterson is overruled by the talented true freshman, the source suggests he could head to the portal for his senior year.
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