The overhaul of Bill Belichick’s quarterback room at North Carolina appears to be complete.
After three QBs, including primary starter Gio Lopez, transferred out of Chapel Hill following last year’s disastrous 4-8 debut season, the Tar Heels have brought in four new signal callers for the 2026 season.
Earlier this week, they signed former Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens out of the transfer portal, according to the college sports website On3.
Dickens enjoyed a strong sophomore season for the Catamounts, who play in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), with 3,508 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 74.2 percent completion percentage.
Dickens set an NCAA record last October with 46 consecutive completions in one game against Wofford, finishing the day 53-for-56 for 378 yards.
The Tar Heels previously had added transfers Billy Edwards Jr. (Wisconsin) and Miles O’Neill (Texas A&M), with both seeing limited action in 2025.
Edwards, who previously spent three seasons at Maryland, suffered a knee injury at Wisconsin early last season.
O’Neill attempted 20 passes as a freshman for Texas A&M, mostly sitting behind Aggies starter Marcel Reed.
North Carolina also received a commitment from an incoming freshman quarterback, Travis Burgess, a three-star recruit out of Georgia who was also reportedly considering NC State and Auburn.
The Tar Heels finished 2-6 in the ACC and 4-8 overall in Belichick’s first season running the program, finishing the year second-to-last in the conference in passing yards and total yards.
Lopez started most of the year behind center and compiled 1,747 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions before transferring to Wake Forest.
Backup quarterbacks Max Johnson (Georgia Southern) and Bryce Baker (Virginia Tech) also transferred elsewhere during the portal window.