In the midst of some injury concerns for UNC football, with Caleb Wilson dealing with a hand injury and Henri Veesaar facing "lower extremity" issues, the team continues to see changes in its roster. Head coach Bill Belichick and GM Mike Lombardi have been busy, signing 132 new players over the past 14 months to fill the 105-man roster, including those they inherited from Mack Brown.
Recruiting Challenges:
Recruiting is always a gamble, and sometimes players don’t make it to campus as planned. Last December, GM Mike Lombardi mentioned that 36 of UNC’s 39 new recruits might enroll early, giving them a head start on the 2026 season through spring practices. This early start can be crucial for players aiming to make an impact in the fall.
However, Inside Carolina reports that Keeyun Chapman and Da’Ron Parks did not enroll early and might miss the entire year. Chapman, a speedy wide receiver from Alabama, was UNC’s top recruit according to ESPN.
Parks, a four-star offensive tackle, was a significant catch for UNC after flipping from Florida State. Losing these two key recruits, especially from the offensive side, is a setback.
There’s hope they can eventually join the team in Chapel Hill.
New Additions:
In a twist of fate, UNC recently added two new players to their roster: offensive tackle Dujuan Davis and quarterback Taron Dickens, a transfer from WCU.
Dickens arrives with an impressive resume. In just nine games at WCU, he threw for 3,508 yards with a 74% completion rate, racking up 38 touchdowns against just two interceptions.
He even set an NCAA record with 46 consecutive completions in a single game. Despite this, Dickens will have to wait until summer to enroll, missing out on spring practices.
This raises some questions about his role, especially since UNC already has a crowded QB room with Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards and others.
Why Dickens was still available after entering the portal in January is another question. Despite his smaller stature for a P4 quarterback (5’11”, 185 pounds), his stats suggest he should have garnered more immediate interest. The decision to bring him in, despite already having multiple quarterbacks, adds another layer of intrigue.
Looking Ahead:
Dujuan Davis, rated a three-star recruit by ESPN, may spend the year developing on the scout team. With offers from Rutgers and Ole Miss, he has potential to grow into a starting role in the future.
As the team navigates these roster changes, the dynamics in the QB room will be interesting to watch. How Dickens fits into this mix will be a storyline to follow as the season approaches.