Tag: North Carolina football

Freddie Kitchens iterates key message ahead of Tar Heels Fenway Bowl

Don’t miss what Freddie Kitchens had to say as he steps in as head coach for the Fenway Bowl.

Two well-known basketball schools will play football on a baseball field. It doesn’t get any more fun than that. North Carolina will take on UConn in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl, on December 28th.

After the firing of Mack Brown, it was announced that Freddie Kitchens would step in as the team’s interim head coach for the bowl game.

When Kitchens met with the team as their head coach this week, he had just one key sentiment for them, via UNC football, “Stay where your feet are, put the work in, and don’t waste an opportunity in front of you.”

Kitchens also went on in his press conference about the current state of the Tar Heels football program since the firing of Mack Brown and the hiring of coaching legend Bill Belichick.

Any time you have a new beginning, there will be excitement. Eventually, the excitement ends and it becomes about the work the person is putting in each day. The excitement turning into an opportunity to play is up to the individual player. It all goes back to being where your feet are each day in whatever you’re doing. It comes down to who they want to become as a player and as a team.

Kitchens will coach North Carolina in its bowl game without superstar running back Omarion Hampton, who is headed for the NFL Draft.

The game will occur on December 28th in Boston, Massachusetts, at Fenway Park. UNC and UConn will kick off at 11:00 a.m. ET on ESPN.

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The Tar Heels land committment from former Georgia offensive lineman

Bill Belichick is now landing former Georgia players in his latest transfer addition.

UNC football continues to strike in the transfer portal, especially from big-name schools across the country. The Tar Heels Transfer Portal Tracker can be found here.

Bill Belichick is overhauling the team’s offensive line with transfers Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit, and former Alabama lineman Miles McVay.

He has also added Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; Connor Cox, a three-star transfer tight end; ex-Michigan kicker Adam Sahama; and now former Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne in the transfer portal.

Now, North Carolina has added a third offensive lineman transferring for the second time from Rice. The original four-star lineman was recruited and committed to the SEC’s best Georgia. With Georgia having so many talented linemen, he transferred to Rice where he spent one year.

This is what 247sports scout Gabe Brooks had to say about Lindberg coming out of high school.

Possesses outstanding size that is college-ready on paper. Run-game mauler who thrives in drive-blocking situations. High motor. Intelligent on and off the field. Tenacious block-finisher who plays with a mean streak that is evident even on tape. Takes his target to the ground if opportunity is there. Does a good job for a taller lineman of playing with good leverage. Shows enough athleticism to successfully combo block to the second level, where he is a handful for opposing linebackers.

With Bryce Baker on his way to Chapel Hill, Bill Belichick is doing everything in his power to work on protecting one of the best quarterbacks in the incoming Class of 2025.

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UNC lands transfer committment from Big Ten quarterback

Tar Heel football strikes big again in the transfer portal today with huge quarterback!

With Bill Belichick in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, it is no secret that players are desirous to play for the ex-NFL coaching legend. With the transfer portal opening just days before his hire, he has already attacked the openings.

Just this week, they added offensive lineman Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit; Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; Connor Cox most recently, a three-star transfer tight end.

Today alone, they have added former Alabama offensive lineman Miles McVay, ex-Michigan kicker Adam Sahama, and now former Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne in the transfer portal.

Browne was a three-star recruit with a 247sports score of 86 coming out of New Berlin, New York. He was the No. 8 player in the state in his class. As a transfer, 247sports still gives him an 86 rating and is the No. 33 quarterback currently in the transfer portal.

This season at Purdue, Browne threw for 43 completions in eight games. He totaled 532 yards and four touchdowns with only two interceptions. He is also a dual threat as he ran 50 times for 155 yards, averaging 3.1 yards per carry in his junior season.

Browne still has two years of eligibility left as he heads to Chapel Hill.

Bill Belichick will continue to be on the hunt for transfers as the portal remains open. It will close at the end of December. You can stay up to day with a full list of the moves that Belichick has made on our Tar Heels Wire Transfer Portal Tracker.

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UNC, Bill Belichick fall short in late push for the transfer portal’s No. 1 quarterback

Bill Belichick went searching for a massive recruit in the transfer portal and fell just short.

Since being hired as the new North Carolina Tar Heels head coach, Bill Belichick has been hitting the ground running in the transfer portal with calls and visits from a dozen prospective players.

Belichick even recently said that players are reaching out to him in an effort to make the team in Chapel Hill. You can find a full list of the moves that Belichick has made on our Tar Heels Wire Transfer Portal Tracker.

In the last week, they added offensive lineman Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit; Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; Connor Cox most recently, a three-star transfer tight end; and three-star kicker, Adam Samaha.

All of those names are good and helpful for the team next season; however, Belichick was reportedly after a whale of a prospect.

According to Georgia Stoia of SoonerScoop and On3, Belichick made a strong play for the No. 1 quarterback in the transfer portal, John Mateer.

In his first starting season last year, Mateer threw for 3,406 yards and 29 touchdowns with only seven interceptions for Washington State.

Washington State also produced Miami transfer quarterback Cam Ward, who became a consensus All-American this season despite not leading his team to the College Football Playoffs.

Despite the strong efforts, John Mateer ended up committing to Oklahoma and signing a massive NIL deal with the team’s collective.

What could Bill Belichick have up his sleeve next for Tar Heel fans?

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Tar Heels football picks up crystal ball prediction for this three-star defensive lineman

Another transfer portal commit could be on his way to Chapel Hill, check out this three-star defensive lineman with a crystal ball to Bill Belichick!

A three-star in-state and inner-conference defensive lineman recruit may be on his way to Chapel Hill. 247 Sports gives him a 100% crystal ball to Bill Belichick and the newly revamped defensive side of the ball.

CJ Mims was initially recruited by North Carolina out of high school along with big-time ACC schools including NC State and Duke.

According to 247sports, Mims played in all 12 games in the 2023 season, logging 249 total snaps, booking 14 tackles, tallying at least one stop in eight of 12 games, and credited with half TFLs against Marshall, UTSA, and Tulsa. He was also credited with a half sack against UTSA and his first forced fumble of his career, Gardner-Webb.

Mims first signed with East Carolina out of high school in 2022 before entering the transfer portal after his freshman year. In December of last year, Mims committed to ACC-rival Wake Forest, where he spent his sophomore season.

Now back in the portal for a second time, it is projected that Mims will make his way east in North Carolina from Winston-Salem to Chapel Hill.

With Travis Shaw entering the portal earlier in the window, UNC football and Bill Belichick could use the help on the defensive line.

Don’t forget to check out our Tar Heels Wire Transfer Portal Tracker.

In the last week, they added offensive lineman Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit; Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; Connor Cox most recently, a three-star transfer tight end; and three-star kicker, Adam Samaha.

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Tar Heels add transfer portal committment from ex-Michigan kicker

UNC, Bill Belichick adds ex-Michigan kicker to replace Noah Burnette.

Since North Carolina hired Bill Belichick and the transfer portal opened, the Tar Heels have been a highly publicized place to play. Belichick has been pegged by ex-NFL players as a “pipeline to the NFL.”

That is bound to bring players, and the Tar Heels have just committed their fourth portal transfer of this window.

In the last week, they added offensive lineman Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit; Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; and Connor Cox most recently, a three-star transfer tight end.

Now, UNC football and Bill Belichick will add a former two-star kicker Michigan recruit out of high school, Adam Samaha.

Samaha was the third-string kicker on the Big Ten school last year behind Dominic Zvada and Charlie Mentzer, which is probably the reason he is in the transfer portal, to begin with after Zvada, the Big Ten Kicker of the Year, announced his return to the team.

Last year, Noah Burnette kicked for North Carolina and converted 49 of 62 field goal attempts during his time in Chapel Hill. After Burnette took to the transfer portal himself, the team’s roster was left with just Liam Boyd and Lucas Osada.

Bill Belichick has been quoted as saying that this is not the last player North Carolina will bring in from the portal, and we should continue to look for more big names to commit to the program soon.

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Bill Belichick discuss the difference UNC’s popularity, between NFL free agency vs NCAA transfer portal

Does free agency in the NFL really differ from the NCAA’s transfer portal?

North Carolina made a hire for its head coaching vacancy that shattered college football bringing in former Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick to Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The coach who spent decades at the professional level dealing with free agency innumerable times has come out with a bold statement to On3 on the direction of college football, the likenesses to the NFL’s free agency, and just how popular he has been amongst those currently in the portal.

Quite honestly, a lot of players and agents are coming to us, saying, ‘We want to be a part of the program. Is there a spot for us? Will you take this player or that player?’ And so forth. A lot of the agents are also representing players in the Transfer Portal that we’ve dealt with in the National Football League. So, a lot of those relationships now carry over into college football.

Belichick and, subsequently, North Carolina now have the one-up as the transfer portal is heavily underway. The Tar Heels have already made their first mark with Holy Cross offensive lineman Christo Kelly.

Many more have already made plans to visit Belichick and North Carolina before they make their decisions. Some, including Connor Cox, canceled visits to other schools in order to make room for UNC football.

The hype is real surrounding Kenan Stadium and Chapel Hill, and it sounds like more players every day are trying to get on board. How far can Bill Belichick take this team?

Keep track of transfer portal news and targets here.

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UNC football, Bill Belichick expected to hire UCF assistant AD

Bill Belichick is expected to expand his already hired staff to include this director of player personnel.

A week ago, North Carolina and its administration announced a monumental hiring for the head coaching vacancy in their football program. Since the arrival of Bill Belichick, he has decided to keep Fred Kitchens as well as bring on Mike Lombardo as the program’s general manager.

Earlier this week, it was rumored that Belichick intended to bring on current Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator, Scott Turner, to be his offensive coordinator at Chapel Hill.

Now, another rumor has broken loss that Belichick is intending to hired Central Florida assistant athletic director Andrew Blaylock to serve as his director of player personnel at North Carolina.

We discussed last week the salary allowances that Belichick received from UNC for his hiring of assistant coaches and football staff.

According to UCF’s website, “Blaylock joined the UCF football staff in June 2022 as special assistant to head coach Gus Malzahn.

Blaylock spent the previous six years at Appalachian State as director of player personnel, overseeing the recruiting department for the Mountaineers’ football program. He also worked at Louisville (2011-14) and Texas State (2015) in recruiting and player personnel.”

Blaylock hasn’t spent all his time behind the scenes though. He was once a dynamic player himself. He played at the University of Florida in college and dominated in high school at Durham Jordan High School, where he holds numerous all-time records.

Bill Belichick is looking to bring Blaylock back home to North Carolina.

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Former three-star TE cancels visit with NC State to visit with UNC football

UNC football continues to make waves in the transfer portal as this TE cancels visit with rival to make room for Bill Belichick.

North Carolina continues to receive good news on the recruiting and transfer portal. This speaks to the dynamic impact the name of Bill Belichick can bring. Even if it doesn’t spark immediate five-star recruits, it still gives cause for pause from some of the top athletes around the country.

Currently, a former three-star commit to South Carolina has put his name into the transfer portal after not receiving playing time under Shane Beamer.

Connor Cox scheduled visits to the schools he was interested in, which did not include North Carolina, but it did include in-state rival NC State.

Since the announcement of Bill Belichick as head coach, Cox has canceled his visit with Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack in favor of one with the Tar Heels.

Cox spent two seasons in South Carolina, where he recorded just nine total games of action across two seasons. He was held without a catch in his freshman year and caught just one pass for nine yards and his first career touchdown last season.

Coming out of high school, 247 Sports’ Andrew Ivins had this to say about the tight end from Bolles.

At first glance appears to be more of a flex or move option, but tape suggests that he can be a full-time, in-line player at the Power Five level if given a chance to develop as he’s a spirited blocker that seeks out work.

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Former Army running back to visit UNC football on Saturday

With Omarion Hampton gone, could this Army running back be the next All-American in Carolina blue?

On the heels of All-American running back Omarion Hampton declaring for the NFL Draft this weekend, Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels have an upcoming visit with one of the top running backs in the transfer portal.

Army running back Kanye Udoh is set to make his visit to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Saturday following a long list of visits this week.

Udoh finished this season with Army with 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He was the No. 26 leading rusher in the nation and the No. 2 on his team behind Army quarterback Bryson Daily.

Daily ate up 283 carries, while Udoh secured just 179. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry, which, at the level of Daily, would have been 1,754 yards. That would rank No. 2 in the nation behind Ashton Jeanty and in front of Hampton.

As only a sophomore, Udoh has two years of eligibility left and could fast-track his way to an NFL Draft spot under new head coach Bill Belichick.

Udoh is also set to visit Missouri on Wednesday, SMU on Thursday, and Arizona State on Friday.

That is some tough competition that Belichick is under as Arizona State is in the College Football Playoffs and Missouri just grabbed a four-star wide receiver recruit in the portal, Kevin Coleman Jr.

However, UNC football has something none of them have, a coach with connections, resources, and knowledge so deep in the NFL that many are calling him a “pipeline to the NFL.”

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