North Carolina’s Week 1 depth chart is starting to take shape, and the Tar Heels are leaning on a mix of established veterans, offseason additions and a few young players with real upside as they head into a huge 2026 season.
At quarterback, there isn’t much mystery. Edwards Jr. has already been named the starter, and O’Neill now appears set to back him up after at one point looking like he had the inside track. Burgess, based on talent alone, projects as the third-string option.
The backfield looks deeper than it did a year ago. June should be the centerpiece of the rushing attack after averaging 5.5 yards per carry last season, while Hall is another returning piece who will carve out carries. Jackson and McGill round out the group as depth, giving North Carolina four backs who could all factor in at some point.
Receiver is one of the biggest overhauls on the roster, but Shipp still sits at the top of the room. The real name to watch is Humphrey, who has stood out throughout the offseason programs and looks like a major part of what the Tar Heels want to do on the outside.
Tight end is another spot where the coaching staff has plenty of confidence in the depth. Warren is the most gifted pass catcher in the group, while Thurman and Washington bring more value as blockers than as receiving threats.
Up front, the Tar Heels have a clear picture at several spots. Hall is the answer at left tackle, with Buchanan providing quality depth behind him. Banfield’s two years in Chapel Hill should help him win the starting job, while Rodriguez - now with his fourth program in as many years after arriving through the transfer portal - is in the mix as well.
At center, Kelly stands alone. He’s the only offensive lineman on the roster who has played snaps there, and he’s the only listed center on the depth chart. That makes his health especially important.
Threatt, one of North Carolina’s marquee offseason additions from Charleston Southern, gives the line some flexibility and is projected to land at right guard. McRoy has a good path to the starting right tackle job, too, especially with the room thin at that spot. The Arkansas transfer also brings familiarity with offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, which should help.
The competition at edge rusher has been one of the more compelling camp battles, but the projection here gives Harvey the nod opposite Melkart Abou Jaoude. The belief is that the staff will chase Harvey’s ceiling.
Inside, the Tar Heels are expected to count on veterans. Johnson enters his third year in Chapel Hill and is a major piece at nose tackle after posting 41 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2025. Jackson and Brown are the top two defensive tackles, with Jackson carrying especially important weight if his production climbs.
Abou Jaoude remains one of the most dangerous pass rushers on the roster, and the hope is that he stays available all season. Beyond him, the depth chart is less certain.
Linebacker features a lot of names, but Seelmann and McDonald are the two that matter most. If they stay healthy, they should handle the bulk of the snaps. Patterson is locked in as a starter as well, while Thompson currently sits second string with Dopson III close enough to challenge him as the season unfolds.
At the nickel spot, Smith looks like the safest bet. He has spent three seasons contributing in multiple roles, and the staff has praised him throughout camp for both leadership and production. Butts, a redshirt freshman, is behind him.
Bryson continues to provide stability at free safety, which is exactly the kind of trait Bill Belichick values. Weatherspoon could climb into the backup role there because of his versatility in the defensive backfield.
Willie is the obvious starter at strong safety, and the gap between him and the rest of the room is significant. The Michigan State transfer is dependable in coverage and excellent against the run.
Finally, Cost and Miller are two more defensive backs worth watching closely. Cost has already put together a strong body of work over the last two seasons, with 109 total tackles, nine passes defensed, 4.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and a pick-six. Miller has also started to draw the staff’s attention in recent weeks.
In Other News...
UNCs Overhaul Put One Huge Belichick Question Front And Center
North Carolinas offseason rebuild has been impossible to miss, and it starts with how aggressively the program attacked the transfer portal. The Tar Heels brought in a wave of experienced help, settled on Billy Edwards Jr. as the starting quarterback and reshaped the staff around Bill Belichicks vision, including swapping out Freddie Kitchens for Bobby Petrino as the offensive play-caller.
The bigger question now is how quickly all of those pieces fit together, especially with the offense still being built around Edwards Jr. and a plan to keep adding pass catchers and offensive linemen for 2026. The staff also made a point of strengthening the rushing attack and pass rush, so the next stretch is less about the roster overhaul itself and more about whether this version of the Tar Heels can turn that new structure into something that actually works on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Malones Early UNC Vision Could Change How The Tar Heels Win
Michael Malone is settling into his first season leading North Carolina, and the early shape of the roster tells you where he wants this program to go. The Tar Heels have shifted their focus toward the backcourt, using transfers to shore up guard play and give the team a different kind of backbone heading into the new season.
For a program long associated with frontcourt size and post presence, that emphasis says plenty about Malones priorities. He has been clear that toughness, effort and guard play will drive what UNC becomes next, and the real question now is how quickly those additions can turn that vision into something the Tar Heels can lean on when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen McGill Is Pushing For A Bigger UNC Role Before TCU
Jaylen McGill has spent the offseason trying to make himself harder to keep off the field, and North Carolinas sophomore running back says the work has centered on the details that coaches notice quickest. He pointed to improvement in pass protection and a growing comfort as a receiver, both signs that he is trying to become more than just another option in the backfield. With the opener against TCU set for Dublin, Ireland, McGill also sounded steady about the quarterback room and the way the offense is coming together under Bobby Petrino.
For a player looking to expand his role, those kinds of comments matter because they fit the broader tone coming out of Chapel Hill. McGill described a locker room that is tight and focused, with players buying into the standard the staff is setting. The Tar Heels still have to show it on game day, but McGills offseason message was clear: he wants a bigger piece of the offense, and he believes he is ready for the chance. [Read more 🡒]