As the winter transfer portal window closes this Friday, January 16, the clock is officially running out for players to enter the portal - but not necessarily to commit. That’s a key distinction, especially for programs like North Carolina, who are still actively shaping their roster. The Tar Heels have seen 33 players enter the portal so far, while bringing in 18 new faces - and with a week of decision-making still on the table, the math isn’t final just yet.
Let’s break down the latest additions to the UNC football roster from this past week - a group that touches nearly every position group and brings a mix of Power Five pedigree, upside, and experience.
Tight End: Adding Size and Playoff Experience
UNC beefed up its tight end room with a pair of Power Five transfers in Jordan Washington (Texas) and Jelani Thurman (Ohio State). Washington, a 6’4”, 264-pound sophomore, caught 7 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown across six games last season. He’s a physical presence who saw time on a Texas team that made the College Football Playoff - though he didn’t record any stats in those postseason games.
Thurman, a 6’6”, 260-pound junior, brings similar size and upside. He hauled in four catches for 42 yards and a score this past season for the Buckeyes.
Like Washington, Thurman was on a CFP roster but didn’t see postseason action. Still, both players come from elite programs and bring valuable experience to a position group that needed reinforcements.
Offensive Line: Building from the Trenches
The Tar Heels added two more big bodies up front, continuing their push to retool the offensive line. The headline name here is Shaq McRoy, a 6’8”, 344-pound freshman offensive tackle from Arkansas who follows new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino to Chapel Hill.
McRoy only played 58 snaps last season, but his size and athletic profile are hard to miss. He even scored a rushing touchdown against Notre Dame - not something you see every day from a tackle.
Joining him is Rowan Byrne, a 6’5”, 295-pound freshman guard from Clemson. Byrne only logged two snaps last season, but he was a well-regarded three-star recruit out of New York and adds depth and developmental potential on the interior.
With these two additions, UNC has now brought in four offensive linemen this portal cycle - two tackles and two guards. One name to watch is Sean Thompkins, a Baylor transfer who had committed to UNC but is reportedly considering flipping to LSU.
Defensive Line: Another Grab from Richmond
UNC continued its trend of pulling talent from Richmond, landing Donovan Hoilette, a 6’4”, 245-pound senior defensive end who was a first-team All-Patriot League selection. This will be Hoilette’s sixth season of college football, thanks to a redshirt and medical redshirt. He led the Spiders in tackles for loss (13) and was second in sacks (6.5) last season.
Interestingly, Hoilette faced the Tar Heels this past season in a game UNC won by 35 - and while he only notched two tackles, he clearly showed enough on film to earn a spot on the other sideline. He’s the second Richmond defender to join the Tar Heels this cycle, continuing a pipeline that’s quietly paying off.
Linebacker: Veteran Help in the Middle
UNC addressed a clear area of need at linebacker with the addition of Derek McDonald from Syracuse. The 6’4”, 230-pound Georgia native brings veteran experience - this will be his sixth year of eligibility.
McDonald played in just three games last season before a hip injury against Clemson ended his year. Before that, he was a steady producer for the Orange, finishing fourth on the team in tackles in both 2023 (63) and 2024 (51).
If healthy, McDonald gives the Tar Heels a proven, physical presence in the middle of the defense - something they’ve been missing at times over the past few seasons.
Special Teams: Kickoff Specialist Joins the Fold
The Tar Heels also added Aeron Burrell, a kicker from LSU. Now, if you’re thinking he’s here to replace Rece Verhoff on field goals and PATs - not quite.
Burrell has yet to attempt a field goal or extra point in college. But what he does bring is elite kickoff ability.
He posted a touchback rate of 89.2% last season - third-best in the country. For comparison, Verhoff was at 75%.
In today’s game, field position matters more than ever, and adding a specialist like Burrell could quietly be one of the more impactful moves of the offseason.
Where Former Tar Heels Have Landed
As new players arrive, others have already found new homes. Here’s where some of the former Tar Heels have landed during this portal cycle:
- DL CJ Mims - Texas A&M
- QB Gio Lopez - Wake Forest
- TE Connor Cox - Virginia
- OG Bo Burkes - Jacksonville State
- QB Bryce Baker - Virginia Tech
- DL Devin Ancrum - Charlotte
- LB Tyler Thompson - Louisville
- S Malcolm Ziglar - South Florida
- WR Kenedy Uzoma - Temple
- TE Jake Johnson - Auburn
- CB Khalil Conley - Appalachian State
- QB Max Johnson - Georgia Southern
- WR Javarius Green - Boston College
- OT Miles McVay - Mississippi State
- RB Davion Gause - NC State
- OT Jani Norwood - Boston College
- CB Ty White - NC State
- LB Khmori House - Arkansas
- WR Chris Culliver - Marshall
- LB Mikai Gbayor - Florida State
With the portal window about to slam shut, North Carolina still has time to round out its roster - and with more players still weighing their options, don’t be surprised if another name or two joins the mix soon. But even as it stands, the Tar Heels have added size, experience, and upside across the board - and that’s exactly what you want to see in a portal class.