Bill Belichick’s first experience with the UNC transfer portal has been a mix of triumph and challenge. While he secured major recruits like 305-pound DL D’Antre Robinson and OL Jordan Hall, the legendary coach also lost key defensive players, including Beau Atkinson, UNC’s top pass rusher.
With high-profile additions and departures, Belichick’s roster-building journey at UNC is off to a thrilling yet unpredictable start.
Bill Belichick’s UNC Transfer Portal Debut: Wins Florida 305-Pounder DL, 5 Defensive Losses In Last 2 Days
The Bill Belichick era at UNC is already making waves, but not all in ways Tar Heel fans might have hoped. The legendary coach with eight Super Bowl rings is getting his first taste of college football’s transfer portal – experiencing both the thrill of landing big-time talent and the sting of watching key players walk out the door.
In just days, Belichick has seen both sides of modern college roster management, offering a fascinating glimpse into how the NFL mastermind is adapting to a whole new ballgame in Chapel Hill.
Bill Belichick’s First Moves in the UNC Transfer Portal Bring a Mixed Bag
Belichick scored a major win by landing D’Antre Robinson, a mammoth 305-pound defensive lineman from Florida who immediately addresses UNC’s need for size and power up front. Robinson isn’t coming alone, either.
Joseph Mupoyi, a defensive lineman with College Football Playoff experience from Penn State, is joining the Tar Heels’ defensive front. The offensive line got a massive boost too with Jordan Hall, a towering 6’8″, 310-pound lineman from UAB who’s expected to start immediately.
When asked about his recruiting approach, Belichick kept it characteristically straightforward: “We want to be a national school, and we are a national school. It is a national brand, and everybody wants to go to Carolina.” So far, his NFL pedigree seems to be opening doors for transfers looking to develop under one of football’s greatest minds.
Defensive Exodus Challenges Belichick’s Roster Building
The celebration over these additions was short-lived, however. In a stunning 48-hour span, five defensive players entered the transfer portal, sending Belichick back to the drawing board.
The biggest blow? Losing Beau Atkinson, UNC’s premier pass rusher, led the team with 7.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss last season. As ESPN noted, Atkinson “had 54 tackles in two seasons at UNC” and still has two years of eligibility left. His departure creates a void that even Robinson’s arrival can’t fully fill.
Former five-star tackle Zach Rice, defensive back Zion Ferguson, and reserve linebackers Cade and Crews Law have also left, further depleting Belichick’s inherited roster.
True to form, the coach remained unfazed when addressing the departures: “I really don’t have any expectations. We’ll see. We’ll go out there and do what we do and see how it goes.”
KEEP READING: North Carolina Football Transfer Portal: Latest Updates on Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels
As spring turns to summer, Belichick’s transfer portal tally stands at 17 players out and 19 players in—including presumptive starting quarterback Gio Lopez. With UNC’s transfer class currently ranked 27th nationally by On3, the legendary coach is building something in Chapel Hill. The only question is whether he can replace what he’s losing before 2025.
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