By Mark Pszonak
With action in the transfer portal slowing down, it is time to take a closer look at how each P4 school did during this cycle. Up now are the North Carolina Tar Heels
The skinny: The post-Drake Maye era begins in Chapel Hill, which resulted in a dive into the portal to try and find a replacement. But was that replacement already on campus? That was one of a few questions that will be answered in the coming months as head coach Mack Brown prepares for his sixth season at North Carolina.
Total # entries into portal: 25
Total # of scholarship players who entered portal: 18
Number of scholarship players who withdrew: 0
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Key losses: OL Diego Pounds (Ole Miss), TE Kamari Morales (Boston College)
Key additions: QB Jacolby Criswell (Arkansas), OL Jakiah Leftwich (Georgia Tech), TE Jake Johnson (Texas A&M), QB Max Johnson (North Carolina), DB Jakeen Harris (NC State), OL Austin Blaske (Georgia)
Final thoughts: North Carolina added Max Johnson during the winter and later saw the return of Jacolby Criswell, who began his career in Chapel Hill before transferring to Arkansas. Both will challenge for the starting job, but right now it looks like a battle between Johnson and Conner Harrell, who gained experience in 2023 after Maye went down with an injury. Many assumed that Johnson was brought in to start, but Harrell has shown more than enough during the winter and spring to make this a legitimate battle this summer. Whoever wins the quarterback job will need better play from the offensive line if the unit is to succeed. While several additions were brought in, much will rely on Austin Blaske for everything to click. The starting center, after being the sixth lineman at Georgia last season, he has quickly adapted to his new environment and looks ready for the challenge. Defensively, look for Jakeen Harris to make a needed impact in the secondary for the Tar Heels.
