Published May 16, 2025
A Look at UNC's Defensive Additions in the Spring Portal
Bryant Baucom  •  TarHeelIllustrated
Staff Writer

With both spring practice and the spring portal window in the rearview, North Carolina's roster for the 2025 season seems largely in place.

Bill Belichick and the Tar Heel coaching staff have revamped the roster through the transfer portal in recent months, adding 20 players this spring, including nine on defense.

Eight defensive players come from the Power Four ranks, and all nine from the FBS level. UNC's spring portal pledges on defense have combined for 99 career games played, 2,549 career snaps, and 246 career tackles.

In total, UNC has added:

-Four linebackers

-Three defensive lineman

-Two defensive backs

Jonathan Agumadu (Linebacker, Oklahoma State)

2024 Stats: Four Games, Eight Snaps

Career Stats: Four Games, Eight Snaps

Career Accolades: N/A

Four Years of Eligibility Remaining


Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins (Defensive Back, UCLA)

2024 Stats: N/A

Career Stats: N/A

Career Accolades: Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2024)

Four Years of Eligibility Remaining


Mikai Gbayor (Linebacker, Missouri)

2024 Stats (at Nebraska): 12 Games, 479 Snaps, 49 Tackles, Six Tackles-for-Loss, One Sack

Career Stats: 25 Games, 617 Snaps, 73 Tackles, Nine Tackles-for-Loss, 1.5 Sacks

Career Accolades: Academic All-Big Ten (2023, 2024), Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (4x), Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2022, 2023, 2024), Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2022, 2023, 2024)

Two Years of Eligibility Remaining


Timir Hickman-Collins (Linebacker, Florida State)

2024 Stats: Redshirted in 2024

Career Stats: N/A

Career Accolades: N/A

Four Years of Eligibility Remaining


Isaiah Johnson (Defensive Lineman, Arizona)

2024 Stats: 10 Games, 170 Snaps, Nine Tackles, 2.5 Tackles-for-Loss

Career Stats: 12 Games, 181 Snaps, Nine Tackles, 2.5 Tackles-for-Loss

Career Accolades: N/A

Three Years of Eligibility Remaining


Joseph Mupoyi (Defensive Lineman, Penn State)

2024 Stats: Two Games, Four Snaps, One Tackle

Career Stats: Two Games, Four Snaps, One Tackle

Career Accolades: N/A

Three Years of Eligibility Remaining


D'Antre Robinson (Defensive Lineman, Florida)

2024 Stats: 11 Games, 162 Snaps, 17 Tackles, Three Sacks, 1.5 Tackles-for-Loss, One Fumble Recovery

Career Stats: 11 Games, 162 Snaps, 17 Tackles, Three Sacks, 1.5 Tackles-for-Loss, One Fumble Recovery

Career Accolades: SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll (2024)

Three Years of Eligibility Remaining


Andrew Simpson (Linebacker, Boise State)

2024 Stats: 12 Games, 506 Snaps, 46 Tackles, 11 Tackles-for-Loss, Three Sacks, Three Forced Fumbles, One Interception

Career Stats: 40 Games, 1,477 Snaps, 141 Tackles, 32 Tackles-for-Loss, 12 Sacks, Five Forced Fumbles, Three Interceptions

Career Accolades: All-Mountain West Second Team (2023), College Football Network Third Team All-America (2023)

One Year of Eligibility Remaining


Gregory Smith (Defensive Back, Florida)

2024 Stats: Five Games, 100 Snaps, Five Tackles

Career Stats: Five Games, 100 Snaps, Five Tackles

Career Accolades: SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll (2024)

Three Years of Eligibility Remaining