Honestly, trying to keep up with the University of North Carolina football depth chart lately feels a bit like trying to read a map while standing in a hurricane. Everything is moving. Players you thought were cornerstones are gone, and a legendary coach who basically owned the NFL for two decades is now calling the shots in Chapel Hill.
Bill Belichick at UNC. It still sounds weird, right? But it's real. And his first season in 2025 was, well, a learning curve. A 4-8 record isn't exactly what the boosters had in mind when they backed up the Brink's truck for the hoodie. Now, as we hit January 2026, the roster is undergoing another massive facelift. If you aren't paying close attention to the transfer portal, you're looking at a depth chart that doesn't exist anymore.
The Quarterback Carousel: Who's Actually Taking Snaps?
Everyone thought Gio Lopez was the guy. He came in from South Alabama, won the job over Max Johnson, and showed some serious flashes. But college football in 2026 is a "what have you done for me lately" business. Lopez is officially out—headed to Wake Forest. Max Johnson? He’s gone too, likely finishing his marathon college career at Georgia Southern.
So, who's left?
Belichick went back to the portal and grabbed Billy Edwards Jr. from Wisconsin. You might remember him from his Maryland days before he headed to the Big Ten. He’s a veteran, he’s sturdy, and he fits that "pro-style" system Freddie Kitchens was trying to run before he got fired in December.
Behind Edwards, it's a bit of a scramble. Miles O’Neill, the Texas A&M transfer, is the name to watch. He’s got the size Belichick loves—6'5" and change—but he hasn't actually played much meaningful football. The coaching staff is basically betting on his ceiling.
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Current QB Room at a Glance
- The Starter: Billy Edwards Jr. (Transfer from Wisconsin)
- The Project: Miles O'Neill (Transfer from Texas A&M)
- The Youth: Expected incoming freshmen and walk-ons.
Replacing the Production: Running Backs and Receivers
Losing Omarion Hampton to the NFL was always going to hurt. He was the heartbeat of that offense. Now, the University of North Carolina football depth chart at running back looks... thin.
Demon June is the name you need to know. He’s a sophomore now, and while he didn't get a ton of carries behind Hampton, the staff is high on him. He’s 5'11", 215 pounds, and runs like he’s trying to break a hole through a brick wall.
The receiver room is a total rebuild. Jordan Shipp is coming back, which is huge. He was a bright spot in a dismal 2025 season. But with Chris Culliver and Javarius Green hitting the portal (going to Marshall and Boston College, respectively), the Tar Heels had to go shopping.
They landed Mason Humphrey from Lehigh. Yeah, FCS, I know. But the kid put up over 1,400 yards in three seasons. He’s a savvy route runner. They also brought in Trech Kekahuna from Wisconsin. It’s clear Belichick is raiding his old Big Ten connections to find reliable hands.
The Belichick Defense: A Family Affair
This is where things get interesting. Steve Belichick is the defensive coordinator. Brian Belichick is coaching the secondary. It’s basically the New England Patriots’ defensive room transplanted into the ACC.
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They run a 4-2-5 base, and it relies heavily on "hybrid" players. Kaleb Cost is the guy who makes this work. He’s a senior now, playing that Nickel/Safety role. He played over 800 snaps last year. You don't do that unless the coaches trust you implicitly.
The defensive line took a hit with Tyler Thompson leaving for Louisville, but Melkart Abou-Jaoude and Isaiah Johnson are both returning for their final years. These are "grown man" players. They’ve seen it all.
Defensive Pillars for 2026
- Melkart Abou-Jaoude (DE): The sack leader. He needs to be a 10-sack guy for this defense to function.
- Andrew Simpson (LB): A Boise State transfer who proved he belongs. He’s the quarterback of the defense.
- Will Hardy (S): The ball hawk. If the pass rush gets home, Hardy is usually the one hauling in the interceptions.
The O-Line: Where Games are Won (or Lost)
Let's be blunt: the offensive line was a disaster in 2025. They couldn't protect Lopez, and they couldn't open holes for the run game consistently. Belichick, being an old-school guy, was clearly embarrassed by that.
He brought in Andrew Threatt from Charleston Southern and Sean Thompkins from Baylor to stabilize things. These aren't flashy "five-star" names, but they are guys with 30+ starts under their belts. They also landed Rowan Byrne, a redshirt freshman from Clemson. He’s the future at tackle.
The depth chart here is basically "competition everywhere." Don't be surprised if the starting five in September looks nothing like the group taking reps in March.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Roster
A lot of fans think that because Belichick is here, every four-star recruit in the country is going to flock to Chapel Hill. That’s not happening. In fact, UNC is leaning harder into "proven" portal guys than almost anyone else in the ACC.
They aren't building a "dream team." They are building a professionalized college roster.
The goal isn't to out-talent Clemson or Florida State. The goal is to out-prepare them and play mistake-free football. It sounds boring, but after last year's 4-8 collapse, "boring" probably sounds pretty good to Tar Heel fans.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Track the Portal Close: The window closes on January 16. Watch for one more defensive tackle and potentially another veteran wideout.
- Spring Game Watch: Keep an eye on the chemistry between Billy Edwards Jr. and Jordan Shipp. If that connection isn't clicking by April, the offense will struggle again.
- Scholarship Count: UNC is right up against the limit after taking so many transfers. Expect a few more "surprise" departures in the spring as the staff trims the fat.
The 2026 season is a crossroads for this program. Another losing season and the "Belichick Experiment" goes from a bold move to a cautionary tale. But if the depth chart stabilizes and the veteran transfers play to their potential, the Tar Heels could finally be the factor in the ACC that they’ve promised to be for a decade.