The North Carolina Tar Heels are heading into the offseason with a clear area of concern: the ground game. After finishing 14th in the ACC in rushing offense, there’s little doubt that the backfield needs a boost - and the transfer portal could be the key to unlocking that.
Freshman Demon June showed flashes this past season, leading the team with 464 rushing yards and averaging a strong 5.5 yards per carry. That’s an encouraging number, especially for a first-year player.
But the fact that June led the team in rushing - and didn’t even crack the 500-yard mark - speaks volumes about how inconsistent or underutilized the run game was. Whether that was a matter of trust, game planning, or simply a lack of depth, the Tar Heels weren’t able to lean on the run when they needed it most.
Enter Bobby Petrino, the new offensive coordinator. Known for his offensive acumen, Petrino could be the one to unlock June’s full potential. But even if June takes a leap in Year 2, North Carolina would be wise to add another weapon to the backfield - and there’s a name already generating buzz: Hollywood Smothers.
Smothers, who’s set to enter the transfer portal in January, just wrapped up a strong season at NC State. He posted 939 rushing yards, six touchdowns, and added 37 receptions for 189 yards and another score. That kind of dual-threat ability - reliable on the ground and a factor in the passing game - is exactly what the Tar Heels could use to diversify and elevate their offense.
Smothers’ journey has already taken a few turns. He started his college career at Oklahoma in 2023 but saw limited action before transferring to NC State.
Once he landed in Raleigh, he wasted no time making an impact. In his first season with the Wolfpack in 2024, he rushed for 571 yards and six touchdowns while averaging a blistering 6.4 yards per carry.
He followed that up with another efficient season in 2025, averaging 6.0 yards per attempt. That kind of consistency - especially in a Power Five conference - is hard to ignore.
If the Tar Heels can land Smothers, not only would they be adding one of the ACC’s more productive backs, but they’d also be poaching talent from a rival program. That’s the kind of move that can shift the balance in a conference race - and send a message.
A June-Smothers tandem in the backfield? That could be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
June brings the burst and upside, while Smothers offers proven production and versatility. Together, they could give North Carolina the kind of 1-2 punch it lacked this past season.
Add in a top-20 recruiting class and a retooled coaching staff headlined by none other than Bill Belichick, and the Tar Heels suddenly look like a very appealing destination for high-level transfers. The infrastructure is there.
The opportunity is real. Now it’s a matter of whether North Carolina can close the deal and bring Smothers to Chapel Hill.
Stay tuned - this could be one of the more intriguing portal moves of the offseason.