UNC football transfer tracker: Tar Heels find a QB in the portal. Who’s in, out?
North Carolina (8-4, 4-4 ACC) wrapped up its regular season at N.C. State on Nov. 25. The transfer portal officially opens Monday, Dec. 4, and closes on Jan. 2, before reopening for two weeks at the end of April.
Among the Tar Heels’ incoming players is Jakeen Harris, a safety who played five years at N.C. State and made 21 starts for the Wolfpack. Harris made a surprise Christmas announcement on social media that he would transfer to UNC.
Keep up with the players who intend to leave the UNC program, and those who plan to join, with this transfer tracker. It will be updated as necessary.
Incoming transfers
QB Max Johnson: With Drake Maye expected to declare for the 2024 NFL draft, this move by Johnson makes sense. Johnson, who announced on his Instagram account that he was leaving Texas A&M, is slighter bigger than Maye at 6-6 and 230 pounds and is an older, experienced player. The lefthanded QB spent two seasons at LSU, then two at A&M and comes to UNC as a graduate transfer.
Johnson, the son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, was limited to eight games this season after suffering broken ribs, passing for 1,452 yards with nine TDs and five interceptions for the Aggies.
OL Austin Blaske: A transfer from Georgia, the 6-5, 310-pound lineman from Faulkville, Ga., has been a backup at tackle and center for the Bulldogs the past three seasons. Has two years of eligibility remaining.
TE Jake Johnson: Another transfer from Texas A&M and the brother of Max Johnson, so they’re staying together. Jake Johnson, listed at 6-6 and 240, had 24 catches and scored four TDs this season.te
DB Jakeen Harris: Talk about switching sides. The safety moves from wearing N.C. State red to UNC blue and will give the Heels a safety with a lot of ACC experience.
OL Howard Sampson: The former North Texas lineman is a big and tall man at 6-8 and 325 pounds. Originally committed to transfer to Texas Christian but chose UNC after making a visit.
RB Darwin Barlow: The two-time transfer started his college career at TCU and then spent three years at Southern Cal.
OL Zach Greenberg: The 6-4, 290-pounder played three years at Muhlenberg College, a Division III school in Allentown, Pa.. Former football and lacrosse star in high school in Livingston, N.J.
OL Jakiah Leftwich: The 6-6, 311-pound offensive tackle had four starts this season as a sophomore at Georgia Tech, which led ACC in rushing.
Outgoing transfers
QB Jefferson Boaz: The 6-7 quarterback, a former 3-star recruit from East Surry High, played against Campbell this past season, completing a pass.
LB Jalen Brooks: The junior from Knightdale played in four games in 2022 and one game this season, and has two years of eligibility remaining.
DL Kedrick Bingley-Jones: A four-star recruit at Providence Day High in Charlotte, he was rated the nation’s 12th best defensive tackle by 247Sports. Is committed to play at Mississippi State.
LB Randy “Deuce” Caldwell: Will leave with two years of eligibility remaining. Played in 11 games in 2023.
OL Chance Carroll: The Mooresville native played in nine games as a reserve for the Tar Heels in 2023.
WR Tychaun “Doc” Chapman: The redshirt freshman from Virginia Beach had seven catches for 135 yards and one TD. Headed rto Marshall.
LB Sebastian Cheeks: A former 4-star recruit, the Skokie, Ill., native played in three games as true freshman in 2022 and eight this season. Headed to Wisconsin.
PK Ryan Coe: Injured early in the season, the transfer from Cincinnati lost his starting position to Noah Burnette and never got it back. Committed to Cal.
RB Elijah Green: The emergence of Omarion Hampton and return of British Brooks this season limited his playing time. Started the last five games of 2022 season and led UNC with eight rushing TDs. Headed to Indiana.
WR Andre Greene Jr.: The former 4-star recruit from Richmond had five receptions in past two years. Committed to play at Virginia.
DB Tayon Holloway: The redshirt freshman, a 4-star prospect, played in 10 games before late-season upper-body injury. Committed to play at Louisville.
DB: D.J. Jones: Moved from running back to the secondary before 2023 season, he played in all 12 games.
OL Justin Kanyuk: Redshirt freshman from Bethlehem, Pa., looking for playing time elsewhere.
P Cole Maynard: Could not beat out Tom Maginness after Ben Kiernan was lost for the season. The Mooresville native had three punts in three seasons.
TE Komari Morales: Had 29 catches and four TDs in 2022 but played behind Bryson Nesbit and John Copenhaver this season. Is committed to Boston College.
RB George Pettaway: Highly recruited running back and kick returner has three years of eligibility.
OL Diego Pounds: The former Millbrook High standout, listed at 6-5 and 330 pounds, had eight starts this season as a sophomore
This story was originally published November 30, 2023 at 2:29 PM with the headline "UNC football transfer tracker: Tar Heels find a QB in the portal. Who’s in, out?."
