The North Carolina Tar Heels went into their 2024 college football season with plenty of new starters – and later, injuries that forced additional starters into spots.
With the transfer portal opening on Monday, December 9, three of those UNC starters entered their names.
North Carolina starting middle linebacker Amare Campbell, starting center Austin Blaske and starting left guard Aidan Banfield announced their decisions to enter the transfer portal.
Their decisions leave the Tar Heels’ roster even more thin ahead of their Fenway Bowl appearance on Saturday, Dec. 28 against UConn.
Some of the biggest shoes UNC had to fill were at middle linebacker, as Cedric Gray was a 2024 fourth-round NFL Draft selection by the Tennessee Titans.
North Carolina elected to fill Gray’s shoes with Cambpell, a sophomore, who exceeded expectations with 6.5 sacks (tied-most on UNC), 10.5 tackles for loss (second-most), 72 tackles (third-most), two pass deflections and a forced fumble.
Injuries piled up for the Tar Heels along their offensive line, forcing a new rotation seemingly every game. UNC was lucky to have consistency from a pair of starters in center Austin Blaske, who transferred from Georgia in the offseason, plus a freshman in Aidan Banfield.
Amare Campbell entering the portal is a big loss for #UNC.
Have to think the program still not having a coach played a major role in this (12 days since MB was fired).
Maybe he changes his mind after that happens, but he’ll have plenty of top teams circling for his signature.
— Jacob Turner (@JacobTurnerTHI) December 9, 2024
Blaske won a pair of National Championships at UGA, but mainly played as a reserve, appearing in just 15 games from 2021-2023.
UNC starting center Austin Blaske has entered the transfer portal.
— Tar Heel Illustrated (@HeelIllustrated) December 9, 2024
Banfield won the starting job over junior Malik McGowan, but an injury forced Banfield to the sidelines. Still, Banfield started the Minnesota, Charlotte, James Madison, Duke, Pitt and Virginia games.
UNC starting offensive guard Aidan Banfield has entered the transfer portal.
— Tar Heel Illustrated (@HeelIllustrated) December 9, 2024
When North Carolina announces its next head coach, I wouldn’t be surprised to see these three pull their names from the portal, especially if that coach is Bill Belichick.
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