UNC football transfer tracker: With Brown-to-Belichick coach swap, who’s joining Tar Heels?

Mack Brown is gone. Bill Belichick is in.

Now, the questions at North Carolina: How many players will be leaving the football program? And how many will be clamoring to come through the door?

With Brown being fired Nov. 26 as head coach, the players were allowed to begin entering the NCAA transfer portal. Assistant coach Freddie Kitchens was named interim head coach.

Among those who entered the portal were linebacker Amare Campbell and center Austin Blaske. Both removed their names from the portal after Belichick was hired and re-recruited the players. Offensive lineman Aidan Banfield was another who went in and out of the portal.

Running back Omarion Hampton, the ACC’s leading rusher, announced Sunday on social media that he would enter the NFL draft. Defensive end Kaimon Rucker announced Dec. 11 that he was declaring for the draft.

Among the players headed to Chapel Hill out of the portal quarterback Ryan Browne, who announced he was leaving Purdue to play for the Tar Heels.

Here’s a look at who entered the portal:

PK Noah Burnette: Ranked fourth in career field goals at UNC, the Raleigh native was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2023. He was not as accurate this season, going 15-of-21 on field goals. Going to Notre Dame.

C Zach Greenberg: An interesting pickup by UNC for this season, coming from Division III Muhlenberg (Pa.) College. Spent much of season as Austin Blaske’s backup at center but did get a start against N.C. Central. Going to JMU.

QB Conner Harrell: Was the starter in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl last season after Drake Maye opted out. Became the starter this season after an injury to QB Max Johnson in the 2024 opener at Minnesota but was soon beaten out and replaced by Jacolby Criswell. Headed to Charlotte.

LB Caleb LaVallee: Was used on special teams and as backup at linebacker, but started the Fenway Bowl and had nine tackles in standout effort. Headed to Florida State.

OL Jakiah Leftwich: With the offensive line to be restructured by the new staff, Leftwich left to play at Central Florida.

OL Malik McGowan: Was with Tar Heels for five seasons and used mostly in backup role although had two starts in 2024.

QB: Michael Merdinger: Freshman became the fourth QB used by Heels this season when he replaced an injured Criswell in the Fenway Bowl.

OL Howard Sampson: Another of the offensive linemen who transferred to UNC, the towering 6-8, 325-pounder is moving on to another school. Started 12 games for UNC last season. Will go to Texas Tech.

DL Travis Shaw: The former 5-star recruit finally found some consistency this season and should be highly sought in the portal, a 6-5, 330-pound player who could plug the middle of the D-Line. Headed to Texas.

DB Tyrane Stewart: Former junior college transfer was a backup at cornerback in first season at UNC and played in nine games.

OL Eli Sutton: A former four-star recruit, he saw little action as a backup offensive lineman.

LB Ashton Woods: Freshman saw little action as a backup to Power Echols and Amare Campbell.

QB: Jacolby Criswell: Criswell has told ESPN that he again plans to transfer. Passed for 2,459 yards and 15 TDs after beginning this past season as the No. 3 quarterback.

Once in the portal, now staying:

C Austin Blaske: a transfer to UNC from Georgia, he took over as the Heels’ starting center. Blaske missed one game with an injury and battled through injuries to play the other 11.

OL Aidan Banfield: The true freshman quickly emerged in preseason and played 10 games for the Tar Heels and had 600 snaps at left guard.

LB Amare Campbell: Was third with 72 stops and wore the “green dot” on his helmet as the communicator of coaching to the defense.

RB Caleb Hood: Saw little action this season as he continued to be hampered by injuries. Started four games for UNC in 2022 but Hampton took over as the starting running back in 2023.

WR Kobe Paysour: Continuing foot problems kept Paysour off the field a lot during his three years at UNC. He had 19 receptions for 330 yards in 2024, his junior season.

Incoming players from the portal

QB Ryan Browne: Played in eight games for the Boilermakers this past season. Has good size at 6-4 and 210 pounds. Started two games last season and finished with 530 yards passing, with 4 TDs. Has retained 3 years of eligibility.

OL Christo Kelly: The Holy Cross lineman has the distinction of being the first player taken from the portal by the Belichick staff. The starting center was named first-team All-Patriot League this season.

DL Melkart Abou-Jaoude: The Heels need immediate help on the defensive line and the transer from Delaware should help. Listed at 6-5 and 260 pounds, the New Jersey native had 6.5 sacks as a junior.

TE Connor Cox: Played the past two seasons at South Carolina, but redshirted this past season after four games and has three years of eligibility. Once played at Cardinal Gibbons High in Raleigh before going to Boiles School in Jacksonville, Fla.

DB Gavin Gibson: Played last season at East Carolina after two years at Maryland. Entered his name in the portal the day after ECU’s win over NC State in the Military Bowl.

LB Khmori House: Transfer from Washington is rated a four-star portal addition. As a freshman, the 6-0, 213-pounder played in 12 games and finished with 35 tackles.

DL C.J. Mims: Was headed from East Carolina to Wake Forest before coach Dave Clawson abruptly resigned. The Vanceboro native should help bolster the UNC defensive interior at 6-2 and 305 pounds.

OL Chad Lindberg: One of Blaske’s former teammates at Georgia, Lindberg played at Rice this past season. The 6-6, 315-pounder can play left guard or left tackle.

OL Miles McVay: A former four-start recruit, he left Alabama after playing five games this past season. Has been used at both tackles, so adds that versatility. Listed at 6-6 and 342 pounds.

WR Aziah Johnson: Once a recruiting target of the Heels, the Richmond native played last season at Michigan State and had 16 receptions with two TDs.

PK Adam Samaha: Highly touted out of high school in Ann Arbor, Mich.., he chose to play for the hometown team but has seen little action with the Wolverines and decided on a new start elsewhere.

OL William Boone: Became fourth offensive lineman to transfer to UNC. A big body at 6-6 and 340 pounds, the Georgia native did not allow a sack last season at Prairie View A&M.

DB Coleman Bryson: The Waynesville native, who has good size at 6-2, 215, played at Minnesota the past three years and played against UNC the past two seasons. MVP in 2022 Pinstripe Bowl.

DL Pryce Yates: Played against the Tar Heels in the Fenway Bowl, with a sack and six tackles in a 27-14 win, and now will join the Heels for his final year of eligibility.

WR Jason Robinson: An interesting transfer in that he did not play at Washington last season after being a highly sought recruit. Comes to UNC with four years of eligibility.

DB Peyton Waters: Transfers to UNC from Washington, where he was coached by Steve Belichick, the Huskies’ DC. Played 13 games as true freshman in 2024, mostly on special teams.

DB Thaddeus Dixon: The exodus from Washington to UNC continued as the Heels picked up a player who started 12 games this season for the Huskies. Former juco transfer played two years for Washington.

OL Daniel King: Was an All-Sun Belt Conference second-team selection this season. Played 40 games in three years for Troy, both at guard and tackle.

This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 6:12 PM with the headline "UNC football transfer tracker: With Brown-to-Belichick coach swap, who’s joining Tar Heels?."

Chip Alexander

The News & Observer

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In more than 40 years at The N&O, Chip Alexander has covered the N.C. State, UNC, Duke and East Carolina beats, and now is in his 15th season on the Carolina Hurricanes beat. Alexander, who has won numerous writing awards at the state and national level, covered the Hurricanes’ move to North Carolina in 1997 and was a part of The N&O’s coverage of the Canes’ 2006 Stanley Cup run.