In an era of unrestricted player movement in college football, teams are undergoing radical changes every offseason. Take UNC before the 2025 season, when the Tar Heels upended their roster and brought in 70 new players.

This offseason, there is only one transfer portal window, between Jan. 2 and Jan. 16. More than two dozen Tar Heels have entered the portal, but the program has also secured the returns of several key contributors from the 2025 season. Here are the players who have confirmed to have “re-signed” with the program and their class in the fall:

  1. RB Demon June (sophomore)
    • 623 total scrimmage yards and 3 touchdowns in 2025
  2.  CB Jaiden Patterson (junior)
    • Tied for third on the team with 5 pass break-ups; also recorded an interception
  3. DL Leroy Jackson (redshirt sophomore) 
    • Appeared in all 12 games and recorded 36 tackles
  4. DB Kaleb Cost (senior)
    • Ranked 5th on the team with 45 total tackles in 2025
  5. DE Melkart Abou-Jaoude (redshirt senior)
    • Second team All-ACC in 2025; recorded a team-high 10.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss
  6. WR Jordan Shipp (junior)
    • Led UNC receivers in catches (60), yards (671) and touchdowns (6) in 2025
  7. DL Isaiah Johnson (redshirt senior)
    • 41 tackles and 2 sacks in 2025
  8. DB Greg Smith III (redshirt sophomore)
    • 25 total tackles and an interception in 2025

“Let’s make no mistake about it: we’re in a professional era,” UNC general manager Michael Lombardi told the media in December. “That’s just part of college football. We’re in a professional era, and that’s why you need a [player] grading system. And that’s why you need to be able to value talent so that you understand what you’re paying for.”

UNC finished the 2025 season with a 4-8 record, its worst since the 2018 season.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Andy Mead

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Five Tar Heels Earn ACC Football Player of the Week Honors
The ACC revealed Monday five different Tar Heels earned Player of the Week honors for their position after helping guide UNC to a 62-26 blowout over then-No. 10 Miami on Saturday. Michael Carter highlights the group by winning ACC Running Back of the Week with a career-high 308 rushing yards and two touchdowns — becoming […]
Three Tar Heels Claim ACC Weekly Football Honors
The ACC revealed its weekly football awards on Monday, with a trio of Tar Heels recognized for their efforts in UNC’s 59-53 win over Wake Forest on Saturday. Sophomore Sam Howell was named the Quarterback of the Week after setting a new school record with 550 passing yards. He also threw for six touchdowns and […]
Sam Howell, Dyami Brown Earn ACC Player of the Week Honors
Despite suffering a heartbreaking loss at Virginia this past Saturday, UNC sophomore quarterback Sam Howell and junior wide receiver Dyami Brown were each named the ACC Player of the Week at their positions. Howell threw for a career-high 443 passing yards and four touchdowns against Virginia, while throwing only five incompletions as he nearly guided […]
Sam Howell, Dazz Newsome Earn ACC Football Weekly Football Honors
Despite losing in crushing fashion in overtime to Pittsburgh last Thursday, a pair of UNC football players were recognized with ACC Weekly Honors on Monday for their efforts in the loss. Sam Howell was named the ACC Rookie of the Week for the fifth time in 10 games this season after throwing for 322 yards […]
Financial Report Shows UNC Athletics Operated at $15 Million Deficit in 2024-25 Year
The newest financial report from the UNC athletic department to the NCAA shows the department operated at a deficit of more than $15 million during the 2024-25 fiscal year. The department reported revenues of $172,951,034 and reported expenses of $187,967,260. The UNC athletic department had operated at a profit in each of the past three […]
'Hard to Imagine': Newmark, Lombardi, Others Share Disbelief at Bill Belichick Hall of Fame Vote
UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi and athletic-director-in-waiting Steve Newmark were among many sports figures to share their disappointment and surprise at reports that head coach Bill Belichick was not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot. An ESPN report published Tuesday night indicated Belichick, currently between his first and […]
Chansky's Notebook: Sophomore Slippage
UNC's schedule for the 2026 football season is out, and Art Chansky says it is very, very bad news for Bill Belichick's second year.
Schedule Set for UNC Football's 2026 Season
The UNC football program now has its complete schedule for the 2026 season. The ACC revealed all of the league members’ schedules Monday night. Your 2026 North Carolina Football Schedule. 🐏 🔗: https://t.co/VQdkI47r8n🎟️: https://t.co/XERIbvZEH8 pic.twitter.com/6Zb5uSn1y3 — Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) January 26, 2026 UNC will open the season in Dublin, Ireland against TCU as part of […]
Here's a List of Which Transfers Have Committed to UNC Football in 2026
The college football transfer portal opened Friday, Jan. 2 and closed Friday, Jan. 16. Here’s a list of players who have committed to head coach Bill Belichick and UNC out of the portal so far, with their classes for the 2026 season: QB Billy Edwards, Jr. (Most recent school: Wisconsin, redshirt senior) Ranked 3rd in […]
Several UNC Football Stars Will Return to Chapel Hill in 2026. Here's the Full List.
In an era of unrestricted player movement in college football, teams are undergoing radical changes every offseason. Take UNC before the 2025 season, when the Tar Heels upended their roster and brought in 70 new players. This offseason, there is only one transfer portal window, between Jan. 2 and Jan. 16. More than two dozen […]
›