Atlantic · 2026

North Carolina

2025 record 4–8 2–6 conference
Postseason No bowl
Head coach Bill Belichick Year 2
Scheme Pro Style / 4-2-5
Conference
C

A 4–8 offense gets a credible QB reset and a stronger development class, but the ACC-title market still prices this as a lower-half roster

Portal
C+

Portal #10 is ordinary and targeted QB/LB/WR fits make the class more valuable than the portal-only rank

Depth
C+

More bodies and HS quality than most rebuilds, though the top two-deep is still heavy on first-year-in-system players

Market odds

To Win ACC
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
To Make Conf. Championship
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
Over 4.5 wins
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%

Recruiting ranks

Overall #3 61 commits · 266.31 pts
Portal #10 20 commits· avg 86

Roster notes

Leading story

Belichick Y2 — overall recruiting board No. 3 carries a second roster rework

Offense

QB Billy Edwards Jr. over Miles O’Neill / Au’Tori Newkirk / Travis Burgess. Jordan Shipp at WR-X; Mason Humphrey / Trech Kekahuna; Jaxxon Warren at TE; Demon June at RB1. Portal/young OL: Jordan Hall, Aidan Banfield, Christo Kelly, Andrew Threatt, Jacqawn McRoy

Defense

Peyton Seelmann and Derek McDonald around Isaiah Johnson, Leroy Jackson, Kaleb Cost, Jaiden Patterson; Donovan Hoilette Jr., Melkart Abou Jaoude, Greg Smith, Coleman Bryson

Key offense

  1. 01
    Billy Edwards Jr. QB
    Portal
    • Wisconsin / Maryland / Wake Forest → UNC
    • 2025 (regular season) Wisconsin was injury-limited (7/16, 113 yds)
    • 2024 Maryland was the real resume: 273/420, 2,881 yds, 15 TD, 9 INT plus 5 rush TD, and a medical redshirt path
  2. 02
    Demon June RB
    Returning
    • 2025 (regular season) 84 carries, 464 yds, 2 rushing TD and 17 receptions, 159 yds, 1 TD
    • led UNC in rushing as a true freshman and had 148 vs Richmond / 101 at Syracuse
  3. 03
    Jordan Shipp WR
    Returning
    • 2025 (regular season) line cited by UNC stat references: 60 receptions, 671 yds, 6 TD
    • listed WR-X1. Trech Kekahuna (Wisconsin → UNC
    • 26 receptions, 211 yds, 14 carries, 129 yds, 1 rushing TD) is the slot supplement

Key defense

  1. 01
    Peyton Seelmann LB
    Portal
    • Richmond → UNC
    • ESPN/UNC: 120 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR
    • First Team All-Patriot League and top-10 FCS total tackler
  2. 02
    Kaleb Cost NB
    Returning
    • 2025 (regular season) UNC bio: 45 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 INT in 11 games
    • listed nickel starter and punt returner
  3. 03
    Isaiah Johnson NT
    Returning
    • 2025 (regular season) UNC bio: 40 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 QBH in 12 games
    • returns as the nose after re-signing