1,000-yard transfer wide receiver includes UNC in his Final Three destinations

A top FCS transfer included UNC in his final three football destinations.

With J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum playing their last games in Chapel Hill during the 2024 college football season, the North Carolina Tar Heels have a big need for experienced talent at wide receiver entering the fall.

Jones is hoping to gain an extra year of eligibility, as he played just two games in 2021, but McCollum has a full five seasons under his belt.

UNC could be getting some needed help from the transfer portal, as on Monday, January 6, Chattanooga transfer wide receiver Javin Whatley included UNC amongst his final three destinations.

Whatley is deciding between North Carolina, Arizona and Memphis, the last of which beat West Virginia in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl.

Whatley isn’t just any ordinary pass-catcher: he’s a consistent, productive talent who helped Chattanooga to three straight winning seasons. Whatley has 2,175 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns and 140 catches over his first three years as a Moc, including a career-best 56 catches in 2024.

Chattanooga knows how to win football games – and as we previously mentioned, Whatley plays a major role in his school’s success. The Mocs went just 7-5 in 2024, but are two seasons removed from a second round appearance in the NCAA FCS playoffs.

Jones totaled 592 receiving yards to lead the Tar Heels in 2024, but Whatley clears Jones’ mark by over the century mark, recording 697 yards last year. Trailing Jones included tight end John Copenhaver (414), who also has no more eligibility.

I feel confident several additional transfers will choose to continue their college football careers at UNC, thanks to head coach Bill Belichick, but snagging Whatley would undoubtedly be a massive victory.

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