Bill Belichick has been busy during the spring window for the transfer portal, adding depth to a UNC football program that desperately needs it ahead of Belichick’s debut season.
Following their open practice at Kenan Stadium on April 12 to conclude the spring portion of the schedule, the Tar Heels lost two of their top defenders to the portal. Defensive lineman Beau Atkinson entered and ultimately chose to join reigning national champion Ohio State.
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Amare Campbell, UNC’s top returner at linebacker, also entered the portal but has yet to choose a new school. Those were the most notable departures for UNC, which has added 13 players via the portal since spring practice ended.
As of April 30, Belichick’s transfer portal class ranks ninth nationally and third in the ACC behind Miami and Florida State. Here’s a breakdown of some of the notable names joining the Tar Heels for the 2025 season.
UNC finds starting QB in Gio Lopez
The Tar Heels’ quarterbacks didn’t separate themselves in the spring, but Belichick answered that question by adding South Alabama’s Gio Lopez to the QB room. With Lopez, the Tar Heels figure to have their leader in place while freshman Bryce Baker learns behind a proven starter. The 6-foot, 220-pound quarterback finished with 2,559 passing yards and 25 total touchdowns, completing 66% of his passes with 18 passing TDs in 11 starts last season at South Alabama. Lopez also made plays with his legs, logging 465 rushing yards and seven TDs on the ground.
Tar Heels add defensive depth with Florida’s D’Antre Robinson, others
UNC added three defensive linemen during the spring period, including Florida’s D’Antre Robinson. As a 6-foot-3, 305-pound freshman for the Gators, Robinson had 17 tackles across 11 games as a four-star prospect. Arizona defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson was next for UNC, giving the Heels another piece for their interior defensive line.
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The 6-foot-1, 311-pound defender had nine tackles and 2 ½ sacks in 10 games last season. Missouri linebacker Mikai Gbayor, who committed to the Tigers after playing the 2024 season at Nebraska, quickly shifted gears and joined the Tar Heels. Gbayor started in 11 games last season, logging 49 tackles, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. Each of those three players will be asked to do more in Chapel Hill for a retooled defense.
Bill Belichick beefs up UNC offensive line with Will O’Steen, Jordan Hall
The additions of UAB offensive lineman Jordan Hall and Jacksonville State offensive lineman Will O’Steen aren’t flashy, but they fill another area of need for the Tar Heels. O’Steen, UNC’s latest April addition via the portal, played nearly 1,000 snaps at left tackle for the Gamecocks last season, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman is a three-year starter. A 6-foot-8, 310-pound lineman, Hall played in all 12 games for the Blazers last season and has three years of eligibility remaining. UNC needs all of the help it can get on the interior.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Bill Belichick, UNC football add to roster through transfer portal
