- UNC’s football roster for the 2025 season has been significantly reshaped by the transfer portal, with new players joining and others leaving.
- The hiring of Bill Belichick as head coach influenced player decisions, with some key players like wide receiver Jordan Shipp choosing to stay.
- Shipp cited his love for the school and the opportunity to play for a legendary coach as reasons for remaining at UNC.
The transfer portal dictates how college football rosters are shaped today, with UNC being a prime example heading into its 2025 season.
North Carolina replaced its entire starting defensive line through the portal, headlined by names like Pryce Yates and CJ Mims. The Tar Heels also snagged several offensive linemen in the portal, likely starting quarterback Gio Lopez, a pair of star linebackers and top-ranked cornerback Thaddeus Dixon.
Add in coaching changes – and roster loyalty dwindles even further. UNC hired 8-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick to be its head coach in December, hoping to bring a consistent winning culture to Chapel Hill. Expected 2025 starters for North Carolina transferred out of Chapel Hill, but several guys stayed.
One key player who decided to stay a Tar Heels is sophomore wide receiver Jordan Shipp, who caught nine passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in 2024. Shipp recently spoke on his decision to stay.
“It’s hard to transfer from a school that you love so much,” Shipp told the media. “I’ve had a lot of friends that came here, a lot of friends that have been successful here – and it’s also hard to leave the greatest coach of all time. Knowing you have one of the greatest coaches of all time coming here, it wouldn’t have been smart for me to leave.”
With no J.J. Jones or Nate McCollum, expect to see Shipp earn starting minutes in 2025. Joining Shipp in the wideout room are Michigan State transfer Aziah Johnson, Colorado transfer Adrian Wilson and Washington transfer Jason Robinson Jr., while the likes of Javarius Green, Chris Culliver and Paul Billups are 2024 holdovers.
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