The transfer portal doesn’t open until Dec. 9 but there is already a steady stream of players entering each day. Now that Mack Brown is out as head coach at North Carolina, Tar Heels can officially enter the portal now as well.
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Most of the best players on North Carolina’s roster are in their last year of eligibility so they’re not going to feel the impact as much as the rest of the program's roster.
Current Tar Heel players will have a choice to make: Stay with the program and work through the unknowns that come with a new head coach or venture into the transfer portal and start over at a new school.
The transfer portal will be a big part of any new head coach’s plan and that will surely impact hold over players as well.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Will a new head coach be in place before the Early Signing Period on Dec. 4 or before the transfer portal opens on Dec. 9?
The timing of North Carolina’s hire will have a significant impact on which current Tar Heels decide to transfer. If the hire is made too late, the new head coach could miss out on adding important prospects from the high school level and from the transfer portal.
WHAT TO EXPECT
North Carolina was already planning to be active in the transfer portal since the program only has commitments from 10 high school prospects in the 2025 class. Now it's going to need to hit the portal even harder to make up for expected losses and potential decommitments.
Retention efforts will be focused on top-100 quarterback Bryce Baker, the Tar Heels' top commitment in the 2025 recruiting class, along with current players like linebacker Amare Campell (who has two years of eligibility remaining), offensive lineman Aidan Banfield (who has three years of eligibility remaining), defensive end Beau Atkinson (who has two years of eligibility remaining) and running back Davion Gause (who has three years of eligibility remaining).
Keeping current players from heading to the transfer portal could be more difficult without Brown still leading the program. Many players on the roster took smaller NIL deals - essentially a “hometown discount” - from North Carolina out of loyalty to Brown.
Which current Tar Heels will decide to transfer? That remains to be seen. Conversations are ongoing but don’t expect any major announcements until after the regular season finale against NC State this weekend
What positions will the new head coach target in the transfer portal? The scheme the next head coach plans on running will impact this answer quite a bit but it’s safe to say the Tar Heels will need to add around ten players from the transfer portal.
On defense, look for the team to add at least three defenders in the front seven and one or two defensive backs. Offensively, quarterback, tight end and offensive line will be priorities.
