Heel Tough Blog: 2026 Position Previews- OL

@uncfootball- Instagram

With official visits done for the summer, it is time to turn our attention back to the 2026 team. We’ll do so by giving you our in-depth position previews for this season where we do a deep dive on each position room as we wait for fall camp to start. We finish our look at the offensive side of the ball with the position room that brings the most question marks on the entire team, the offensive line.

Heading into the season, there is very little in terms of known quantities for this unit. Junior Aidan Banfield is the most experienced member of the unit and the staff is hoping that he can return from his injury and become the anchor of this unit this season. According to the reports from spring practice, he spent his time at right guard, a spot that he has played just 31 snaps at during his first two seasons in Chapel Hill. In order for this offensive line to be a serviceable unit, they need Banfield to be better than he was last year where he graded out with a 62.4 run block grade, a 70.6 pass block grade and a 64.8 overall grade, but struggled against the two power conference opponents. If he can take a step forward and become even a reliable guy who can be counted on week-to-week, that would give this unit a fighting chance.

Graduate center Christo Kelly is one of the main vocal leaders on the team, but he is still relatively unproven at this level after playing just sixteen snaps a year ago. In those snaps that we saw him play last season, he had trouble with slow snaps, so the hope is that the staff has been able to speed him up this offseason. In terms of the grades, he had solid numbers at Holy Cross, but the run blocking could stand to be a little better if this offensive line is going to improve. Kelly is one of the guys that we feel best about heading into the season, but that really speaks more to the state of the room right now.

The other name that feels locked into a starting job is Charleston Southern transfer Andrew Threatt, who will provide some nice versatility despite likely slotting in at left guard. Threatt is another player whom the staff have some high expectations for that will have to make the jump from the FCS level while also transitioning back to a position that he didn’t have as much success at in his time with the Buccaneers. The good news is that he is coming off his best season in terms of PFF grades and he has the ability to play right tackle, a position that he may end up playing if others struggle. For now, the focus is on getting him to be better than he was in 2024 at guard.

The tackle spots are where the battles are heading into the fall. At right tackle, it looks as if redshirt freshman Eidan Buchanan is the favorite to emerge as the starter against TCU. Buchanan played in just three games last year after earning the starting job at left tackle against the Horned Frogs in the opener and the staff is hoping that a move to right tackle will provide better results after he really struggled as a freshman. Last year, Buchanan graded out with a 49.1 run block grade, a 42.6 pass block grade and a 42.8 overall grade in his 62 snaps played across the first three games of the season, all numbers that need to improve if he is going to hold on to the job on to a starting job this year.

At the left tackle spot, fellow redshirt freshman Trey Blue exits the spring as the starter after reportedly putting together a solid showing in the spring. Last year, as a true freshman, Blue failed to play a single snap, but it appears he has taken some major strides this offseason. If he can duplicate what he did in the spring, he will most likely be the starter for the team in Dublin.

The guy pushing at left tackle is junior Jordan Hall, who is back after starting the final four games of the season a year ago. While he didn’t grade out horribly, he still wasn’t nearly as effective as he needs to be if he is going to reclaim a starting job this fall. Hall graded out with a 58.9 run block grade, a 52.1 pass block grade and a 58.2 overall grade while allowing one sack and 11 total pressures, all areas that he will need to improve on if he is going to be a serious challenge to Blue in camp.

The challenger at the right tackle spot is Arkansas transfer Jacqawn McRoy, who seemed to have held his own in the spring. In 58 snaps last season, he graded out well as a run blocker (63.9), but did not in pass protection (50.1). It’s hard to tell exactly why to expect from McRoy based on the limited snaps he’s played, but he at least looks as if he’ll earn the backup role behind Buchanan this season. It will be interesting to monitor whether or not he can do enough to actually challenge for the starting role, something that would be welcomed because of the possibility that Buchanan may struggle again.

On the interior, it appears that JUCO transfer Jonah Rodriguez is the guy that will be the next guy up at all three positions. He was a first team All-JUCO member last year, so he comes in highly regarded, but he has to prove that he is no longer the guy that couldn’t catch on at either San Diego State or Arizona. His versatility will help him to stand out amongst some of the other depth pieces that are in this room.

Outside of those eight, the team has work to do to find contributors. The three second year players, Rowan Byrne (Clemson transfer), Brandon Homady (West Virginia transfer) and Bryon Nelson, combined to play just 10 snaps a year ago, while sophomore Peter Pesansky continues to push to get his first opportunity after converting from the defensive side of the ball.

The unit will also have seven true freshmen that will be a part of the unit. Will Conroy, Anthony Hall and J.B. Shabazz were all with the team in the spring, while Cristian Alvarez, Dujuan Davis, Nick Fiumara and Zion Smith will get their first chance to practice at the college level when camp begins. It will be interesting to see if anyone amongst this freshman group can stand out next month.

Projected Depth Chart:

LT

#77 Trey Blue, RFr.

#66 Jordan Hall, Jr.

#55 Brandon Homady, RFr.

#74 Nick Fiumara, Fr.

LG

#75 Andrew Threatt, Sr.

#70 Byron Nelson, RFr.

#51 Peter Pesansky, So.

#65 Zion Smith, Fr.

C

#56 Christo Kelly, Gr.

#54 Jonah Rodriguez, Jr.

#57 Will Conroy, Fr.

RG

#68 Aidan Banfield, Jr.

#52 Rowan Byrne, RFr.

#79 Anthony Hall, Fr.

#67 Dujuan Davis, Fr.

RT

#72 Eidan Buchanan, So.

#71 Jacqawn McRoy, So.

#73 J.B. Shabazz, Fr.

#60 Cristian Alvarez, Fr.