Portal implications of Mack Brown’s departure from North Carolina

The transfer portal doesn’t open until December 9th, but there is already a steady influx of players every day. Now this Mack Brown With North Carolina’s head coach leaving, the Tar Heels can now officially enter the portal.

Most of the top players on North Carolina’s roster are in their final year of eligibility, so they won’t feel the impact as much as the rest of the program’s roster.

Current Tar Heel players have a choice to make: stay with the program and deal with the uncertainties that come with a new head coach, or venture into the transfer portal and start over at a new school.

The transfer portal will be an important part of any new head coach’s plan and that will certainly impact player retention as well.

Will a new head coach be hired before the early signing deadline on December 4th or before the transfer portal opens on December 9th?

The timing of North Carolina’s hiring will have a significant impact on which current Tar Heels decide to transfer. If the hire is made too late, the new head coach could miss out on attracting key prospects from the upper echelons and the transfer portal.

North Carolina had already planned to enter the transfer portal as the program only has commitments from 10 high school prospects in the 2025 class. Now the portal needs to be hit even harder to offset expected losses and possible releases.

Retention efforts will focus on top-100 quarterback Bryce Baker, the Tar Heels’ top commitment in the 2025 recruiting class, along with current players such as linebacker Amare Campell (who has two years of eligibility remaining) and offensive lineman Aidan Banfield ( who did this). three years of eligibility), defensive end Beau Atkinson (who has two years of eligibility remaining) and running back Davion Gause (who has three years of eligibility remaining).

Without Brown continuing to lead the program, it could become more difficult to keep current players from entering the transfer portal. Many players on the roster accepted smaller NIL deals – essentially a “hometown discount” – from North Carolina out of loyalty to Brown.

Which current Tar Heels will decide to transfer? That remains to be seen. Discussions are ongoing, but we don’t expect any major announcements until this weekend’s regular season finale against NC State

What positions will the new head coach pursue in the transfer portal? The program the next head coach plans will significantly impact that answer, but it’s safe to say the Tar Heels will need to add about ten players from the transfer portal.

On defense, make sure the team adds at least three defenders in the front seven and one or two defensive backs. Offensively, quarterback, tight end and offensive line will be the priority.