North Carolina Football: 2025 Tar Heels Season Preview and Prediction

North Carolina Football: 2025 Tar Heels Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Tar Heels’ 2025 roster is full of turnover and question marks, and early recruiting returns under new head coach Bill Belichick — who issued no jersey numbers in the spring, telling players they had to “earn it” — have been underwhelming. Until UNC shows real on-field success, top prospects may continue to look elsewhere.

[Editor’s note: This article is from Athlon Sports’ 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]

North Carolina 2025 Season Preview and Prediction

Previewing North Carolina’s Offense for 2025

North Carolina’s offense will feature a heavy reliance on unproven young talent and a patchwork of transfer additions, the most promising of whom is Gio Lopez. The former South Alabama quarterback threw for 2,559 yards and rushed for 465 more in 2024. At receiver, Jordan Shipp and Kobe Paysour headline the outside, while Aziah Johnson, a dynamic Michigan State transfer, mans the slot. Tight end Jake Johnson adds a big target in the middle of the field.

The offensive line has received a bit of a makeover, as the Tar Heels picked up Will O’Steen, William Boone, Jordan Hall, Daniel King and Christo Kelly in the transfer portal. The offense has potential on paper, but between inexperience, roster turnover and a lack of proven production, significant growing pains seem likely early in the season.

North Carolina WR Kobe Paysour | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Previewing North Carolina’s Defense for 2025

UNC’s defense will lean heavily on newcomers, and Pryce Yates, in particular, provides a potential difference-maker up front. The UConn transfer has 12.5 career sacks and earned defensive MVP honors against the Tar Heels in last year’s Fenway Bowl. He headlines a rebuilt front four that includes Smith Vilbert and CJ Mims. Sophomore D’antre Robinson, a Florida transfer, is expected to start on the interior line, with former Arizona Wildcat Isaiah Johnson providing depth.

The linebacker situation is murkier, though, after standouts Amare Campbell and Beau Atkinson entered the transfer portal. Khmori House, an incredibly athletic transfer from Washington, is likely to start, with transfer Mikai Gbayor and freshman Evan Bennett also in the mix.

Meanwhile, the secondary brings back Marcus Allen, Kaleb Cost and Will Hardy but will rely on transfers like Thaddeus Dixon (Washington) and Gavin Gibson (East Carolina) to solidify the back end. Chemistry, leadership and physicality remain major concerns given all the turnover.

North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Previewing North Carolina’s Specialists for 2025

The special teams will be a mix of experience and uncertainty. Aussie Tom Maginness returns as punter and holder, providing some stability. Marshall transfer Rece Verhoff takes over placekicking duties after a strong finish to 2024, when he connected on 13 of his final 15 field goals and drilled a 49-yarder in overtime against James Madison. In the return game, Chris Culliver and Javarius Green provide explosive potential on kickoffs, while Hardy is a safe, albeit unspectacular, option on punt returns.