Bill Belichick’s second offseason at the helm of the North Carolina Tar Heels is already making waves - and once again, it centers around the quarterback position. After a rough go with transfer Gio Lopez last season, who lasted just one year in Chapel Hill before heading back into the portal, Belichick is doubling down on the transfer route. This time, though, he’s bringing in not one, but two new arms: Billy Edwards and Miles O’Neill.
Let’s start with Edwards. He’s the more experienced of the two, and by all accounts, he’s the early favorite to take the first snap in 2026.
Edwards began his career at Maryland, where he saw some starting action in 2024. He later transferred to Wisconsin, but his time there was brief - he attempted just 16 passes all season.
Still, the combination of prior starting experience and a veteran presence gives him a leg up in a quarterback room that’s looking for stability.
But here’s the thing: Edwards isn’t exactly locked in. His numbers at Maryland were serviceable - 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions - but they didn’t scream “franchise guy.”
And the fact that he couldn’t crack the starting lineup at Wisconsin raises some legitimate questions about his ceiling. He’s steady, sure, but not the kind of quarterback who’s going to single-handedly change the trajectory of a program.
That’s where things get interesting with Miles O’Neill.
O’Neill is a redshirt sophomore who spent the last two seasons at Texas A&M. His on-field résumé is limited - just 20 pass attempts, 171 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks - but the tools are hard to ignore. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, he’s got the kind of frame scouts drool over, and his arm strength is already turning heads in Chapel Hill.
He’s not a true dual-threat quarterback, but don’t let that fool you - O’Neill can move. He’s athletic enough to escape pressure, extend plays, and make throws on the run. In today’s college game, that kind of mobility isn’t just a bonus; it’s a necessity.
Now, Belichick and his staff will need to decide whether they want the safer, more experienced option in Edwards, or the higher-upside, less-proven O’Neill. It’s a classic college football conundrum: do you go with the guy who’s been around the block, or take a chance on the young talent with a bigger arm and more physical upside?
Make no mistake, Edwards will likely get the nod to start the year - and he’s earned that shot. But don’t be surprised if O’Neill makes this a real competition.
He may not have the track record yet, but he’s got the traits that coaches love to develop. And in a Belichick-run program that values discipline and upside in equal measure, O’Neill could be a name to watch as the season unfolds.
The Tar Heels are still searching for their answer under center. Whether that answer is Edwards’ experience or O’Neill’s potential remains to be seen - but the battle is on, and it’s shaping up to be one of the more intriguing quarterback competitions in the ACC.