North Carolina’s roster picture is finally starting to sharpen after a turbulent offseason, and the Tar Heels’ projected Week 1 lineup is taking shape following training camp.
That matters because this is a program coming off a 4-8 season and a 2-6 conference mark, a rough year that landed even harder after the administration made Bill Belichick one of the highest-paid head coaches in the sport. The results weren’t there last season, but the focus now shifts to the opener and a depth chart that looks much clearer than it did a few weeks ago.
At quarterback, the answer is already in place. The Wisconsin transfer was officially named the starter on Tuesday, and for now that puts Edwards Jr. at the top of the offense. How long that holds remains to be seen, but he enters the season as the guy.
The backfield also appears to have a front-runner. There has been some buzz lately around Benjamin Hall, but June is the name expected to open the year as RB1. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound runner flashed in a limited role in 2025, and a bigger workload should give him a chance to do more.
The receiving corps has a clear hierarchy, too. Shipp is the obvious centerpiece of the passing game and the established No. 1 target.
Humphrey has turned heads in training camp and looks set to be a major part of the offense, while Kekahuna is expected to work from the slot. His connection with Edwards Jr. should help smooth out the transition.
Tight end is another spot where the Tar Heels seem to know exactly what they have. The Colorado State transfer is the most gifted player in the room, and even with injuries limiting his output, Warren looks positioned to be a significant part of the passing attack.
Up front, North Carolina’s offensive line will include several newcomers, with Threatt and McRoy among the players who could grow into anchor roles on the unit.
On defense, the projected front has a few moving parts, but the expectation is that this will be the Week 1 group against TCU. Harvey is the one name that carries the most uncertainty.
The Penn State transfer has major upside, but he remains raw. Still, with Abou Jaoude on the other edge, the staff could decide to take the gamble and let Harvey start.
The linebacker pairing looks much more settled. Seelmann and McDonald have been penciled in for a while, and it’s easy to see why. Seelmann finished in the FCS top 10 in total tackles last season with 120, and McDonald brings four years of experience to the mix.
Belichick has spent the offseason praising each of these players, and at 74, he’s going to lean on their leadership and experience to steady the defense. If the line does its job, that puts even more pressure on the secondary to hold up its end.
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Bacots next chapter is not just about basketball, either. After going undrafted in 2024, he spent time in the NBA Summer League, the G League and with European clubs while keeping an eye on another crack at the NBA, and he has also used his name, image and likeness earnings to launch a hotel business near Raleigh. For Tar Heels fans, it is a reminder that one of the most productive players in school history is still building something new, even if the final destination remains a little farther down the road. [Read more 🡒]
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For North Carolina, it is another reminder of the kind of reach the program still carries when it comes to attracting and rewarding talent. Bacots comments also captured the larger shift in college basketball, where player compensation now sits at the center of the conversation in a way few could have imagined not long ago. His gratitude for the financial benefits came through plainly, even as his experience pointed to a landscape that looks very different for the next wave of Tar Heels. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichick Faces His First Real UNC Test Against TCU
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North Carolina did not stand pat after that rocky debut year, reshaping the offense and bringing in a large wave of new talent to help reset the tone around the program. With a new quarterback in place and a much different supporting cast around him, the Tar Heels will get an immediate read on their progress against a TCU team that should reveal plenty about how far Belichicks rebuild has come. [Read more 🡒]