It’s starting to feel more real in Chapel Hill as the summer days pass. On Saturday morning, the North Carolina Tar Heels officially kicked off their 2025 football season, holding their first day of Training Camp under a cloudy sky.
Despite the gloomy weather, excitement was rampant throughout the practice field and Kenan Football Center.
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New head coach Bill Belichick, who rarely gave off a happy demeanor during his NFL days, smiled several times during his opening press conference and even cracked a few jokes. Belichick spoke extensively about his excitement to coach yet another season of football, his first at the college level. Retirement seemed like Belichick’s next destination upon parting ways with the New England Patriots, but there’s a reason he’s trying his hand in the college game.
Though competition was apparent on the grass, players enjoyed themselves. UNC has plenty of positional battles on tap, most notably at quarterback, but high-fives and smiles were felt hundreds of yards away.
Max Johnson update
Johnson, who started 2024 at quarterback for North Carolina, broke his leg in the 2024 opener at Minnesota. Now just a month out from live game action, Johnson is fully recovered from that gruesome injury.
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“I was just so joyful to be out there today, I couldn’t stop smiling,” Johnson said during media availability. “I remember taking my first steps and just being so happy in that moment. I was just so happy to be out there today with my teammates again, I kind of felt like myself again.”
Johnson will compete with South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez for the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback gig, plus 4-star freshman Bryce Baker can be his new team’s first true freshman starter since Sam Howell.
Belichick talks about his extensive, hands-on approach to coaching
One of the top reasons many consider Belichick the GOAT coach: his ability to maximize talent. Belichick has a defensive background, but he spoke on the importance of staying involved with every roster group.
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“As a head coach, I’ve always tried to be involved in every aspect of the game, whether that’s offense, defense, special teams,” Belichick said. “Our strength program, our conditioning program, our off-the-field education of the players and so forth. It’s important for me to be a part of all the things that we do”
During the practice portion of Saturday, Belichick was between all players groups: offensive linemen on his left, defensive backs and wide receivers behind him, plus quarterbacks and running backs to his right. Though Saturday was just the first official practice of UNC’s 2025 season, Belichick already proved the importance of being an all-around coach.
Marcus Allen speaks about having three Belichicks coach him
It’s no secret defense is a major weak link for North Carolina, at least in the years leading up to Belichick. One mainstay for the Tar Heels, though, is defensive back Marcus Allen.
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A full-time starter since 2023, Allen now get to play for defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, who came over from Washington in the offseason. Allen’s positional coach will be Brian Belichick, whom UNC lists as their defensive backs and safeties coach.
“All three of them are like their own different characters,” Allen said. “Steve is a great coach. He has a lot of NFL experience. He knows the defense well and the best position to put us in to win. Brian, he’s a mastermind. He knows everything that’s going on with the defense. Just having them two together is really allowing us to be a better defense, make more smarter calls and just make more plays in general.”
Allen is one of just two projected returning starters on North Carolina’s defense, along with multi-positional player Kaleb Cost. Expect to hear Allen’s name called plenty during gamedays.
UNC’s defense will differ from the Washington Huskies’ 2024 unit
Just because Steve Belichick is North Carolina’s new defensive coordinator for 2025, doesn’t mean he’ll bring the same schemes from Washington in 2024.
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New Tar Heels linebacker Khmori House, who transferred from Washington earlier in the offseason, spoke on what fans can expect of this fall’s defense.
“Last year was the 2024 Washington defense, this year is going to be the 2025 UNC defense,” House said. “Completely new people, new defense, we just play to our strengths.”
House is one of nine new projected starters on UNC’s defense. Andrew Simpson will likely join North Carolina as a starting linebacker, while Mikai Gbayor brings depth on a unit typically amongst the team’s strong suits.
Practice Notes
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The Belichick Effect was real Saturday morning, even with gloomy weather parking itself in the Chapel Hill sky. Media crowded the near sideline at the Bill Koman Practice Facility.
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Bill Belichick and his positional coaches were huddled up at the edge of their players, later splitting off to their respective groups.
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Positional groups moved around the field, starting with a team stretch across the field. Offensive lineman, quarterbacks, running backs, pass-catchers and defensive backs all split off into different areas.
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Alabama transfer Miles McVay (right tackle), returner Austin Blaske (right guard), Holy Cross transfer Christo Kelly (center), returner Aidan Banfield (left guard) and returner Trevyon Green (left tackle) comprised the first offensive line group that went through blocking sled drills.
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Max Johnson took first-team reps, followed by Gio Lopez and then Bryce Baker and Au’Tori Newkirk. This is encouraging for Johnson’s hopes, particularly as he missed most of 2024 with a broken leg, but also surprising considering the NIL money UNC paid Lopez.
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Running backs worked on a variety on contact drills Saturday morning, including one where they bursted through pads on each side of them. Ball security will play a huge factor in the Tar Heels’ RB room this season, particularly with no clear-cut starter.
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Drills that UNC quarterbacks worked on included lateral movement across pads, then throwing to a coach several yards downfield. The likes of Johnson and Lopez also worked on moving backwards over pads, then firing to coaches downfield.
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One defensive drill I witnessed was getting to the backfield. Coaches stood between their players and the backfield, with players then showcasing their quick release.
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If ACC Kickoff and Training Camp Saturday were any indication of Jordan Shipp’s role in North Carolina’s 2025 offense, he’ll have a large one.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football: Takeaways from Day One of 2025 Training Camp
