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Heel Tough Blog: Kentucky Recap
ESPN.com Looking to bounce back, against a desperate Kentucky team, UNC went on the road, into a hostile Rupp Arena and earned a 67-64 win, in the ACC/SEC Challenge, to give Carolina their first win in Lexington since 2007, and arguably the biggest win since winning at Duke back in March of 2024 to clinch the ACC regular season title. And while Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar both recorded double-doubles, it was freshman Derek Dixon, not even a starter, who came to the rescue,

Joshua Marlow
12 minutes ago5 min read


Heel Tough Blog: 2026 3✮ S No Longer Signing With Tar Heels on Wednesday
@darienlewisx2- Instagram In the midst of all of the excitement about the the upcoming opening to the early signing window on Wednesday for the Tar Heels’ 2026 class, the news of a new decommitment has flown under the radar a bit. As he announced via social media on Tuesday evening, 2026 3✮ S Darien Lewis is no longer signing with the Tar Heels today and will instead be signing with UNLV. Lewis, who had been committed to the Tar Heels since July 2nd, took an official visit to

Anthony Pagnotta
5 hours ago1 min read


Heel Tough Blog: 5 Tar Heels Earn ACC Honors After 2025 Season
Sports Illustrated Despite going just 4-8 this season, and 2-6 in league games, there were some Tar Heel football players to be recognized by the conference’s media members, as the 2025 All-ACC teams were announced earlier today. The first player to earn honors on either the first or the second team was defensive lineman, Melkart Abou Joude, who recorded 10.5 sacks and 47 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, while starting all 12 games after transferring in from Delaware

Joshua Marlow
17 hours ago2 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Kentucky Preview
CBS 17 After having a few days off to regroup after the loss to Michigan State on Thanksgiving night, the Tar Heels return to action tonight, in the ACC/SEC Challenge, as they travel to Kentucky to take on the #18 Wildcats. The loss to Michigan State was the first loss of the season for Carolina, which is 6-1, and is ranked 16th in the AP Poll. Last week was the first time that the Tar Heels played on a neutral floor, and tonight will be the first true road game for Carolina,

Joshua Marlow
1 day ago4 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Lose Commitment from 2026 3✮ IOL
@elirickell- Instagram Early Signing Day for the 2026 class is set for Wednesday and prior to that the team has lost a commitment from one of their members of the offensive line. As he announced via social media on Sunday evening, 2026 3✮ IOL Eli Rickell has decommitted from UNC and is reopening his recruitment. He had been committed to the Tar Heels since early June. His departure isn’t a significant blow to a Tar Heel class that still has three interior offensive lineman co

Anthony Pagnotta
2 days ago1 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Former Tar Heel WR Set to Enter the Transfer Portal
@paulbillupsii- Instagram After losing two wide receivers to the transfer portal yesterday, the team received news on Monday that a former wide receiver who left the team earlier in the year will be entering the transfer portal as well. As he announced via his social media on Monday afternoon, Paul Billups II will enter his name into the transfer portal when it opens on January 2nd after he stepped away from the Tar Heels back in late September. He will have two years of elig

Anthony Pagnotta
2 days ago1 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Depth Slot Receiver Enters Portal
Alex Vesper For the second time today, the Tar Heels have received news that a member of the wide receiving corps will be entering the transfer portal this offseason. As first reported by Chandler Vessels of On3 Sports/Rivals, Tar Heel wide receiver Jason Robinson Jr. will enter the transfer portal when it opens on January 2nd. He joins fellow receiver Chris Culliver as those to make the announcement today. He should have three years of eligibility remaining wherever he lands

Anthony Pagnotta
2 days ago1 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Lose Former Starting WR to Transfer Portal
Grant Halverson- Getty Images The transfer portal isn’t set to open until the beginning of November, but the team now has a second player that has confirmed he will enter when it ends. As he announced via social media on Sunday afternoon, Tar Heel wide receiver Chris Culliver will enter his name into the transfer portal when it opens on January 2nd. He joins offensive tackle William Boone as the players to make it official that they will go to the portal this offseason. He wi

Anthony Pagnotta
3 days ago2 min read


Heel Tough Blog: NC State Recap
Lance King- Getty Images The Tar Heels closed out the first season of the Bill Belichick experiment on Saturday night in Raleigh with a dud against the arch rival, NC State. The Tar Heels would allow touchdowns on each of NC State's first four drives and trail by 18 at the half. In the second half, it felt like there was a chance for them to get back in the game at 28-13, but the defense would fall apart again, leading to the team getting blown out for a second time in three

Anthony Pagnotta
3 days ago5 min read


Heel Tough Blog: NC State Preview
Jaylynn Nash- Getty Images The Tar Heels’ 2025 regular season is set to come to an end on Saturday when they head to Raleigh to face their arch rivals, the NC State Wolfpack. Here is a look at everything you need to know for the matchup as the Tar Heels look to end their losing streak at four to the Wolfpack. Team Breakdown Tar Heels After a nice two game win streak from the team in the middle of year, the Tar Heels have returned to Earth with two losses to in-state opponents

Anthony Pagnotta
4 days ago7 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Complete Flip of 2026 3✮ P/K
@adammcgibbs11- Instagram The Tar Heels hot streak on the 2026 recruiting trail continues after a day off and this time it comes in the form of a special teams addition. As he posted on social media on Friday afternoon, 2026 3✮ P/K Adam McCann-Gibbs has flipped his commitment from Penn State to UNC. The team landed his commitment after an official visit to Chapel Hill over the weekend that led to him rethinking his commitment according to Brian Dohn of 247Sports. The Tar Heel

Anthony Pagnotta
5 days ago2 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Michigan State Recap (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
@UNC_Basketball Seeking their first 7-0 start since their last national championship, the Tar Heels instead were instead tripped up 74-58 by Michigan State, in a game that was closer than the final score, but not as close as it should’ve or could’ve been. Carolina took a 22-15 lead with less than 8 minutes left to play in the first half, which prompted a Tom Izzo timeout. After that timeout, Michigan State responded with a 13-0 run and never looked back, on their way to the w

Joshua Marlow
6 days ago5 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Michigan State Preview (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
@UNC_Basketball Thanksgiving may be a football holiday, but college basketball takes center stage today, as two of the most iconic programs in the sport, North Carolina and Michigan State, are prepared to do battle in Fort Myers, Florida, later this afternoon. Both teams are 6-0 and are ranked inside the AP Top 20, including Carolina, which is #16, in the poll. They improved to 6-0 on Tuesday night, with an 85-70 win over St. Bonaventure, behind a career night from Henri Vees

Joshua Marlow
6 days ago4 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Flip 2026 3✮ WR from Purdue
Hayes Fawcett- Rivals The Tar Heels hot streak on the 2026 recruiting trail has hit a high over the last couple of days. The most recent commitment comes at the wide receiver position where they flipped a recent offer from Purdue. As first reported by Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports/Rivals, 2026 3✮ WR Kymistrii Young has flipped his commitment from Purdue to UNC. Young officially visited Chapel Hill over the weekend after the Tar Heels offered him back in the middle of October. H

Anthony Pagnotta
7 days ago2 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Complete Flip of Former Penn State CB Commit
@im__jules- Instagram As Early Signing Day approaches, the Tar Heels are getting hot on the 2026 recruiting trail. After landing two commitments in the class yesterday, the team has picked up two more today, the first of which is a flip from Penn State. As first reported by Hunter Shelton of On3/Rivals, the Tar Heels have completed the flip of former Penn State commit Julian Peterson. Peterson, who decommitted from the Nittany Lions on October 22nd, took an official visit to

Anthony Pagnotta
7 days ago2 min read


Heel Tough Blog: St. Bonaventure Recap (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
WPTF Behind a career night from Henri Veesaar, the Tar Heels got past a feisty St. Bonaventure squad, 85-70, to secure their first start 6-0, since the 2016-17 season, the last time Carolina won the national championship. Many nights early on this season, Caleb Wilson has been the best player for UNC, but last night that title went to Veesaar, who scored a career high 24 points and grabbed a career high 13 rebounds, for the third double-double of his career, all coming at UNC

Joshua Marlow
7 days ago4 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Land 2026 JUCO OT
@JonahRodz- Twitter For the second time today, the Tar Heels have landed a commitment in the 2026 recruiting class, this time from the JUCO ranks. As first announced by Hayes Fawcett of Rivals, 2026 JUCO OT Jonah Rodriguez has committed to UNC over Colorado. Rodriguez, who visited Boulder over the weekend, visit Chapel Hill officially back on the weekend of November 8th. He has two years of eligibility remaining and is expected to apply for a medical waiver to add a third. R

Anthony Pagnotta
Nov 262 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Add Commitment from 2026 3✮ LB
Following a big final official visit weekend to close out the early signing period, the Tar Heels have landed another commitment on the defensive side of the football. As he announced via social media on Tuesday afternoon, 2026 3✮ LB Jordan Avinger has committed to UNC over West Virginia and others. The commitment comes after the team hosted him for an official visit over the weekend, after he was offered by the staff back in early October following his decommitment from Arka

Anthony Pagnotta
Nov 252 min read


Heel Tough Blog: St. Bonaventure Preview (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
@UNC_Basketball After a week off, the Tar Heels return to action this evening against St. Bonaventure, in the first of two games in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Tar Heels have raced off to a 5-0 start, headlined by a win over Kansas back in the first week of the season, but at the season turns three weeks old, Carolina is set to play their first game away from Chapel Hill this season. Caleb Wilson has exploded onto the national scene, averaging a double-double, at over 20 poin

Joshua Marlow
Nov 254 min read


Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels OL Expected to Enter Transfer Portal
@williamboone_- Twitter With the Tar Heels’ regular season getting ready to come to a close this weekend against NC State, the portal entries appear to be beginning for the team. As first reported by Steve Wiltfong of On3/Rivals, Tar Heel offensive lineman William Boone is planning to enter his name into the transfer portal. He will have two years of eligibility remaining wherever he lands. This announcement comes two months after it was revealed that Boone was leaving the te

Anthony Pagnotta
Nov 242 min read
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