North Carolina’s fall camp is turning into a full-blown audition, and Bill Belichick has plenty of decisions still hanging in the air. With a roster that’s been reshaped by the transfer portal and a few true freshmen pushing hard, the Tar Heels have several jobs that still don’t have a clear owner for the 2026 season.
The biggest one, of course, is quarterback. Even if UNC has a starter lined up for Week 0 against TCU, that doesn’t mean the job is locked down for the whole year.
Billy Edwards Jr, Miles O'Neill, and freshman Travis Burgess all appear to have a real shot at winning it in camp. If the season were ending at Thanksgiving weekend, Burgess feels like the pick thanks to his dynamic ability and arm talent, while Edwards brings experience and O'Neill offers a high ceiling of his own.
Free safety is another spot worth watching closely. Veteran Coleman Bryson is the projected starter after flashing downhill closing speed, explosiveness, and range in a rotational role last season.
But true freshman Jakob Weatherspoon has a path to make that a much tougher call. Bryson’s tackling and control coming downhill still need work, and if he isn’t consistent, Weatherspoon has the talent to force his way into the conversation for the single-high role as the season goes on.
The defensive front has its own quiet battle brewing. Jaylen Harvey, the transfer from Penn State, and Donovan Hoilette, an FCS standout, are both in the mix opposite Melkart Abou Jaoude.
Harvey should have the edge, but the two pass rushers are likely to rotate with an "OR" designation. A strong run from either one could be enough to make him the clear top option.
Tight end might be the deepest competition on the roster outside of quarterback. Jelani Thurman, Jaxxon Warren, and Jordan Washington are all fighting for playing time, and each brings something different to the table. That group could easily end up in a committee until somebody separates himself under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.
There’s another open lane at receiver, too. With Jordan Shipp expected to spend more time at X-receiver and Trech Kekahuna working from the slot, the Z spot is there for the taking. The player who finds the most consistency - or simply gets hot at the right time - could end up as the lead option in that movement role.
Mason Humphrey and Nathan Leacock both fit that bill. Humphrey, an FCS transfer, and Leacock, a former blue-chip wideout, have the kind of talent that could make them immediate contributors for Petrino.
The question is which one gets there first. That battle may also tilt toward a committee, but the hot hand will matter, especially once the starting quarterback is in place for opening weekend.
In Other News...
UNC Suddenly Has A New Frontcourt Race To Win
A recent federal ruling has quietly changed the recruiting landscape for college basketball, and North Carolina is already taking notice. A U.S. District Court judge granted an extra year of eligibility to athletes in the high school graduating class of 2022, opening the door for programs to recheck the market on experienced big men and creating a new wrinkle for the Tar Heels as they continue shaping their frontcourt.
One name to surface quickly is Cameron Fens, the seven-foot center from South Dakota State who was among the players granted that additional year. UNC has shown interest, and it is hardly alone, with a long list of programs also getting in touch as the transfer and eligibility picture starts to settle. For the Tar Heels, it adds another layer to a frontcourt race that already felt important, and now has a new contender in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Quarterback Battle Just Put Fresh Pressure On The Safer Options
Training camp has already pushed North Carolinas quarterback competition into one of the biggest talking points around the program, and the early conversation has a familiar shape: the safer, more experienced options are still the ones with the clearest path. Billy Edwards Jr. and Miles O'Neill bring the kind of experience coaches usually lean on in August, while the Tar Heels are also trying to sort out how quickly they want to trust a true freshman in Travis Burgess.
Still, Burgess has not sounded like a player the staff plans to ignore. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino has been open about the freshmans potential, and that kind of praise matters at a position where every practice rep gets magnified. Even with the veteran presence in the room, the fact that Burgess is already being mentioned as a legitimate contender says plenty about how unsettled this battle could remain as North Carolina works toward the opener. [Read more 🡒]
UNC May Have Found The Pass Catcher This Offense Desperately Needed
North Carolina spent much of 2025 searching for answers on offense, and the struggles were severe enough to cost Freddie Kitchens his job and send the Tar Heels in a new direction with Bobby Petrino running the attack. Since then, the staff has worked to reshape the passing game by adding receivers and tight ends through both the transfer portal and recruiting, all in an effort to give the offense more reliable options and a clearer identity.
Early in training camp, senior receiver Humphrey has emerged as the name worth watching. He already showed last season that he can be a productive target, finishing with 35 catches for 651 yards and four touchdowns, and now he looks like a player who could help stabilize a passing game that badly needs it. For UNC, finding one trusted pass catcher would be a major step toward making this offense more functional under its new coordinator. [Read more 🡒]