North Carolina’s season is here, and with kickoff finally arriving, the Tar Heels are trying to turn the page after last year’s mess in Year 1 of the Bill Belichick era. The roster has enough talent, at least on paper, to get to bowl eligibility. But for that to happen, a few players have to drag this thing forward.
Three names stand out as potential difference-makers for 2026, and the first one is the most obvious: the quarterback. UNC named Edwards the starter this week against TCU, but the doubts around the position haven’t exactly disappeared.
The former Wisconsin transfer has a real chance to settle things down and become a steady game manager for an offense that will lean heavily on the run under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. If Edwards protects the football and makes solid decisions, the whole attack could look a lot cleaner, and the weekly quarterback uncertainty might start to fade.
On the other side of the ball, Abou Jaoude is the kind of presence that can tilt a game without needing much help. He’s already one of the top pass rushers in the ACC, and the numbers and the tape both back that up.
With his size and brute power at the point of attack, he can be a problem for offensive tackles snap after snap. The challenge now is keeping that level of production rolling.
If he does, he could end up as one of the defining players of the Belichick era.
The last piece is in the receiver room, where North Carolina needs someone besides Jordan Shipp to help create a real passing game. That’s where Humphrey comes in.
The senior Lehigh transfer has long had the reputation for size, speed, and vertical ability, but the real test is whether that talent shows up against Power Four competition in the ACC. If it does, he has the kind of playmaking profile that could give this offense a much-needed jolt and help reshape what UNC can be through the air.
In Other News...
UNC Fans Just Got A Reminder Of Max Johnsons Unfinished Story
Max Johnsons college football journey is still going, and for UNC fans it now has another chapter attached to it. The former Tar Heels quarterback has been named the starter at Georgia Southern as he heads into his seventh collegiate season, a reminder of just how long his career has stretched across LSU, Texas A&M and Chapel Hill.
Johnsons path has been shaped as much by persistence as by the schools on his resume. After suffering a severe leg injury in 2024 and going through multiple surgeries, he was granted an extra year of eligibility and made it back onto the field in 2025, leaving his story open in a way that still invites attention from every stop along the way. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Denis Suddenly Has A Real Chance To Matter For UNC
Isaiah Denis looked like one of the more likely Tar Heels to test the transfer market when Hubert Davis was fired, but the returning sophomore guard ended up staying put after conversations with new head coach Michael Malone. That decision keeps Denis in Chapel Hill, where he arrives with limited college playing time behind him but a chance to carve out a more useful role than he had a season ago.
Malone's staff is expected to value depth and defensive versatility, two things that could open the door for Denis if he can earn trust early. For a roster still taking shape under a new coach, even a player who once seemed buried on the depth chart can matter quickly, and Denis now has a real opportunity to become part of the rotation in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichick Already Faces Early Pressure In UNC's Dublin Opener
Bill Belichicks first season at North Carolina brought plenty of attention, but not nearly enough wins to quiet the noise around the program. The Tar Heels finished 4-8, and the offseason has not exactly offered a clean reset, with the program still dealing with an HR investigation involving general manager Michael Lombardi, who is currently on administrative leave.
Now the second season begins in Dublin, Ireland, a setting that adds another layer of scrutiny to a team already carrying pressure into the opener. North Carolina is trying to change the conversation right away, but the history of teams who have traveled there has not been encouraging, with several returning home to rough follow-up seasons. For Belichick and the Tar Heels, the first step of Year 2 already feels like more than just a season opener. [Read more 🡒]