North Carolina’s offense is heading into 2026 with a clear identity in mind, and it starts on the ground. After a disastrous 2025 season that left Bill Belichick’s team among the worst offenses in college football, the Tar Heels spent the offseason attacking the problem from every angle.
Belichick brought in Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator and reinforced the roster at the right side of the offensive line, tight end and wide receiver. North Carolina also kept some help at running back, and the way the roster has been shaped points to a unit built to lean on the run.
That backfield could become the engine. Sophomore Demon June, redshirt junior Benjamin Hall and transfer Kaleb Jackson form a three-man group that gives the Tar Heels size, speed and physicality in different packages.
June already showed what he can do last season, most notably against Syracuse when he piled up 183 total yards. He also flashed earlier against Richmond with 148 yards and a touchdown.
Hall had his moments in losses to Cal and Virginia, leading the team in carries in both games. Jackson arrives with a fresh start after getting no opportunity at LSU. Together, the trio gives Petrino options, and the expectation is that all three can handle meaningful work.
Petrino’s style fits that personnel. He likes power concepts and wide-zone looks that stretch defenses out of spread formations, the same kind of approach he used with Mike Washington at Arkansas in 2025. That makes the line additions even more important, especially with guard Aidan Banfield back in the mix.
The setup also suggests a heavier dose of 12 and 13 personnel, which would fit a more old-school, physical identity. That’s the kind of football Belichick has long preferred, and it could give North Carolina a clearer edge than it had a year ago.
The expectation is not that the Tar Heels suddenly become an elite offense. But with June, Hall and Jackson all capable of handling 10-15 carries a game, North Carolina has a real chance to make a major jump in run-game production. And if that ground game takes hold, the passing attack should benefit from the balance it creates.
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Now he is getting another Summer League run, and this one comes with a little more intrigue than expected. The Spurs announced their roster with Davis on it, a move that caught some attention because many had assumed he would stay in the Lakers organization, and it gives UNC fans another chance to track how his game keeps evolving against NBA-level competition. [Read more 🡒]
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Japan will now remain part of that journey, with Brooks moving into his second season competing there after a run with the Chiba Jets. For a player who has already shown a willingness to adapt from one league to the next, the next chapter keeps him in a familiar region and gives him another chance to settle in with a new club. [Read more 🡒]