The Tar Heels are bracing for even more turnover in their wide receiver room as redshirt freshman Alex Taylor plans to enter the transfer portal on January 2. It’s another hit to a position group that’s already seen its fair share of departures this offseason-and Taylor’s exit marks the fifth wideout to test the portal waters.
Taylor, who still has three years of eligibility remaining, saw limited action during his two seasons in Chapel Hill. But he did manage to carve out a role late this year, earning his first career start in the regular-season finale against NC State. That game also happened to be the most significant workload of his young career-32 snaps in the slot, where he caught one pass for 15 yards.
In total, Taylor played 165 snaps across offense and special teams over two seasons, catching four passes for 42 yards on nine targets. This year, he logged 106 offensive snaps, was targeted six times, and hauled in three catches for 27 yards. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but his development was trending upward toward the end of the season.
Still, with Taylor’s decision to move on, the Tar Heels’ receiver room is quickly becoming a blank slate. The departure list keeps growing, and the ripple effect could be felt well into next season. The coaching staff is now facing the reality of having to rebuild the unit almost from scratch heading into 2026.
There are a few bright spots, though. Jordan Shipp is still in the fold for now-a key retention-and the incoming freshman class includes some promising talent.
But if this group is going to be ready to compete at a high level next fall, it’s clear that the staff will need to dip into the transfer portal themselves. Experience matters, especially in a young room, and adding a veteran presence or two could go a long way in stabilizing the position.
As it stands, the Tar Heels are looking at a wide receiver corps in transition. The next few weeks-especially once the portal officially opens-will be critical in shaping what this offense looks like moving forward.