The North Carolina Tar Heels are bracing for more roster turnover as defensive lineman Kamari Thomas has officially entered the transfer portal, continuing a trend that’s become all too familiar in Chapel Hill this offseason.
Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman out of Brooklyn, New York, was part of Bill Belichick’s first recruiting class at UNC. A former three-star prospect, Thomas came in with some promise-ranked 18th in New York and among the top 200 defensive linemen in the 2025 class, per 247Sports’ composite rankings. But he never saw the field in his freshman season, and now he’s looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
His departure adds to a growing exodus from the Tar Heels program. Thomas becomes the 14th player to hit the portal since the end of the season, a significant number that underscores the kind of roster shakeup Belichick is facing as he tries to rebuild a once-competitive ACC program.
And Thomas isn’t alone on the defensive side. Linebackers Khmori House and Tyler Thompson-two of the more notable names on that side of the ball-are also on their way out. That’s a lot of talent leaving a defense that already struggled in 2025.
There’s no sugarcoating it: Belichick’s first season at the helm in Chapel Hill didn’t go according to plan. The Tar Heels finished 4-8, missing out on bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018.
Several of those losses weren’t just defeats-they were lopsided. The season-ending 42-19 loss to rival NC State was a particularly tough pill to swallow for a fanbase that had hoped Belichick’s arrival would signal a new era of toughness and discipline.
Still, there are a few signs of life if you look closely. North Carolina has landed a top-20 recruiting class for 2026, and with offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino now in the fold, there’s at least a framework being built for future success. That combination-Belichick’s pedigree, Petrino’s offensive mind, and a strong incoming class-could make UNC an attractive landing spot for transfer talent looking for opportunity and exposure in a Power Five conference.
But the reality is this: Belichick has work to do, and fast. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2, and the Tar Heels are in a position where they’ll need to be aggressive.
The loss of former four-star quarterback Bryce Baker may sting the most. With uncertainty at quarterback and holes all over the depth chart, the pressure is on to bring in instant-impact players who can help stabilize the program.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Belichick-he’s no stranger to roster management, even if the college game presents its own unique challenges. But if UNC is going to turn things around in Year 2, it starts with how they navigate the next few weeks.
The portal taketh, but it also giveth. Now it’s up to Belichick and his staff to make sure the second part of that equation comes through.