UNC kickoff specialist Jonathan Kim will be entering the transfer portal, UNC head coach Mack Brown announced Monday. Kim had taken kickoffs for Carolina in each season of Brown’s second tenure in Chapel Hill. Brown called Kim’s decision “a surprise,” and said it was motivated by Kim’s desire to kick field goals. Noah Burnette has taken all field goals and extra points this season.

“Jonathan wants to transfer so he has a chance to kick somewhere else,” Brown said. “So we’ll let Noah Burnette do our kickoffs… we want to thank [Kim] for all he’s done.”

Kim had established himself on the UNC special teams unit with his strong leg on kickoffs, regularly booting the ball through the back of the end zone and not allowing teams to return the kick. Brown called Kim “one of the best in the country” in that regard.

Brown said the timing of Kim’s decision coincided with the four-game limit for potential redshirts. With Kim entering the transfer portal after four games, he will now be able to retain an extra year of eligibility at his new school, plus the extra “COVID year” granted to all student-athletes who competed in 2020-21. This means Kim will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Kim’s decision leaves Carolina with just two place-kickers on its roster: Burnette, who is 2-2 on field goals and 22-22 on extra points, and redshirt freshman Todd Pledger from Charlotte. Ben Kiernan and Cole Maynard are Carolina’s two punters.

The Tar Heels will be back in action this Saturday against Virginia Tech at 3:30 p.m. in Kenan Stadium.

 

Featured image via Inside Carolina/Jim Hawkins

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