North Carolina found a difference-maker in Jelani Thurman, and the tight end has wasted no time turning that opportunity into national attention.
The former Ohio State pass catcher arrived in Chapel Hill as one of the more intriguing transfer portal pickups in the country, and he has quickly become one of the Tar Heels’ most important players. Thurman has done it while wearing No. 45 in honor of his late mother, former WNBA star Kara Braxton, and his production has pushed him into the center of the national tight end conversation.
At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Thurman brings a rare blend of size and movement. He can create extra yards after the catch with his athleticism, and he has the length and strength to haul in throws away from his body.
He has also handled the dirty work. Under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, blocking matters, and Thurman has been a strong run blocker since Week 0 against TCU.
The numbers back up the eye test. Thurman ranks third among all FBS tight ends in receiving yards with 525, and he is one touchdown away from tying the school record for receiving scores by a tight end. That kind of output has put him squarely in the mix for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end.
He is not alone in that race. Virginia Tech’s Luke Reynolds is also in the discussion, and Virginia Tech’s success may give Reynolds the edge. Even so, Thurman may be the more gifted player of the two.
There’s also a bigger decision looming after the regular season. Thurman will have to decide whether to enter the 2027 NFL Draft, where he should be one of the three best prospects at his position and possibly the best. For now, though, he remains a central reason North Carolina is 5-4 and one win from bowl eligibility, with a favorable schedule ahead.
For Bill Belichick’s program, the portal addition has been a major lift. Thurman has been one of the clearest signs of progress in Chapel Hill, and he has become one of the biggest reasons the Tar Heels are in position to finish the season on a high note.
In Other News...
Belichick May Be Getting A New In-State Rival Tar Heels Fans Know Well
NC State is expected to hire Philip Rivers as its next head football coach, pending approval from the universitys trustees, a move that would instantly add a familiar name to the in-state rivalry. Rivers, an NC State alum and former NFL quarterback, has spent the past few years coaching at the high school level since 2021, and his jump to the college sideline would bring a very different kind of spotlight to Raleigh.
For North Carolina, the development matters beyond the usual border-state bragging rights because Bill Belichick knows Rivers well from their NFL meetings. Belichick has already weighed in on Rivers competitiveness, which only adds to the intrigue if the hire becomes official and the rivalry gets a new face with a long football rsum behind it. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Has A Real Chance To Clinch Something At Louisville
North Carolina heads to Louisville with a straightforward goal in front of it: get one more win and become bowl-eligible. After the Tar Heels handled UConn, the program has a little momentum and a clearer sense of identity under Bill Belichick in his second season, with the discipline on both sides of the ball looking more settled than it did earlier in the year.
Billy Edwards Jr. has been a big part of that push, coming off a strong outing against UConn with 255 passing yards and three touchdowns. Now the challenge gets a little tougher on the road, where UNC can turn a solid midseason stretch into something more meaningful if it can finish the job at Louisville. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Defense Just Lost A Key Piece At The Worst Time
North Carolinas defense took a tough hit during its game against Syracuse, when linebacker Jonathan Agumadu suffered a lower-body injury that will keep him out for the rest of the 2026 season. Agumadu had become a significant part of the Tar Heels defensive rotation, so his absence leaves a noticeable void in the middle of the unit at a point when depth matters most.
Timir Hickman-Collins is among the linebackers expected to help absorb the workload from here, and UNC will need others to step forward quickly as it tries to steady the defense without one of its more reliable contributors. Injuries are part of the season, but losing a player like Agumadu now forces the Tar Heels to adjust on the fly and reshuffle a position group that had been counting on his presence. [Read more 🡒]