Heel Tough Blog: Projected Depth Chart for TCU

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The Tar Heels are now just six days away from the matchup with the TCU Horned Frogs in Kenan Stadium to open the 2025 season. While it appears that the staff isn’t going to put out a depth chart before the game, we’re here to give you our projected depth chart based on some of the intel that was reported during fall camp.

Offense

QB

# 7 Gio Lopez, So.

#14 Max Johnson, Sr.

Earlier this week, Bill Belichick made it official that Lopez is going to be starter and that should come as no shock. Expect him to be given every opportunity to be a successful starter.

RB

#21 Davion Gause, So.

#28 Benjamin Hall, So. OR

# 4 Caleb Hood, Sr.

It seems like Gause is safely in the starter role here at running back, while the battle behind him will continue into the season. Hall has made a strong charge up the depth chart this spring as one of the standouts in fall camp. He may very well be the second back on the field for the Tar Heels on Monday night over Hood, who looked guaranteed to see reps earlier this offseason.

WR(X)

# 1 Jordan Shipp, So.

# 0 Alex Taylor, RFr.

WR(Z)

# 8 Kobe Paysour, Sr.

# 3 Chris Culliver, Jr.

WR(SL)

#81 Aziah Johnson, So.

# 9 Javarius Green, RFr. OR

# 5 Jason Robinson Jr., RFr.

We haven’t heard a lot about the wide receivers, but the expectation is that this will be what the depth chart looks like. By all indications, Paysour is going to be on the outside, meaning that Johnson is likely going to start in the slot. Taylor was called a dependable option by Belichick last week, so it’s hard to see a scenario where he is not in the two-deep. Robinson has shined as a route runner in camp and should be pushing Green for a spot in the two-deep.

TE

#19 Jake Johnson, Jr.

#18 Connor Cox, So.

No shock here. These were the top two guys at the position after the departure of Ryan Ward and it appears that things have stayed that way through the fall. This is another position where we haven’t seen a lot of reports on, though, so it could certainly look different on gameday.

LT

#72 Eidan Buchanan, Fr.

#78 Trevyon Green, Jr.

LG

#52 Daniel King, Sr.

#73 Will O’Steen, Sr.

C

#53 Christo Kelly, Sr.

#69 Chad Linderg, Sr.

RG

#68 Aidan Banfield, So.

#54 Miles McVay, So.

RT

#55 Jakai Moore, Sr.

#69 Chad Lindberg, Sr.

This is the unit that has seen the most change since fall camp started. With Austin Blaske out injured, Banfield looks like he will be slotting in at right guard in his place. The biggest shockers, though, are Buchanan and Moore at the tackle spots. There is still time for someone else to make a push to take those jobs, but it seems like those two have the inside track right now. Kelly will be the starter at center if he’s healthy, while Lindberg appears to be the first guy up if he can’t go.

Defense

DE

# 8 Smith Vilbert, Sr.

#40 Tyler Thompson, So.

NT

#92 CJ Mims, Jr.

#94 Isaiah Johnson, Jr.

DT

# 6 D’Antre Robinson, RFr.

#91 Leroy Jackson, RFr.

DE

#10 Pryce Yates, Sr.

# 9 Melkart Abou-Jaoude, Jr.

It is unclear as to what type of defensive front Stephen Belichick is going to roll with this season, but our best guess is that we will see mostly four-man fronts. All of the starters here feel like locks after the Tar Heels hit the portal hard this offseason. Jackson is probably the biggest surprise here, but all indications are that he has earned a spot in the two-deep with what he has done in the fall.

WLB

# 7 Khmori House, So. OR

# 4 Mikai Gbayor, Sr.

MLB

# 2 Andrew Simpson, Sr.

#30 Evan Bennett, RFr.

Simpson is a guaranteed start, but the other starting spot looks like it may be fully up for grabs. The concern with House is his size, but if he can prove that it won’t be an issue, he may be the starter for the team as soon as the opener. If not, he will likely split time with the experienced Gbayor, who is built like your traditional linebacker.

CB

# 1 Thaddeus Dixon, Sr.

#20 Jalon Thompson, So.

CB

#29 Marcus Allen, Sr.

#11 Ty Adams, So.

NB

# 5 Gavin Gibson, Sr.

#15 Tre Miller, So. OR

# 0 Ty White, So.

SS

#21 Kaleb Cost, Jr.

#16 Coleman Bryson, Jr.

FS

#31 Will Hardy, Sr.

#17 Peyton Waters, So. OR

# 3 Malcolm Ziglar, So.

This unit feels pretty set in terms of the starters, so now it’s just a matter of where everyone is going to play. Dixon and Allen will be the starters on the outside at corner and Hardy looks like he is a shoe-in to play free safety, but it is unclear where exactly Gibson and Cost will play. After last season, Gibson should be the guy in the slot and Cost the guy at strong safety with a short leash if he struggles at that position.

Special Teams

PK

#90 Rece Verhoff, Sr.

#97 Guytano Bartolomeo, Fr.

P

#96 Tom Maginness, Sr.

#93 Jacob Horvath, Jr.

KOS

#90 Rece Verhoff, Sr.

#97 Guytano Bartolomeo, Fr.

LS

#42 Spencer Triplett, Sr.

#48 Gannon Burt, So.

H

#96 Tom Maginness, Sr.

#93 Jacob Horvath, Jr.

KR

# 3 Chris Culliver, Jr.

# 9 Javarius Green, RFr.

PR

#31 Will Hardy, Sr.

#21 Kaleb Cost, Jr.

The special teams unit also feels pretty set at this point. Verhoff was brought over to be the starting kicker and will be and Maginness looks like he’ll hold on to the punter job. Culliver is an explosive kick returner and Hardy is a safe option at the punt return spot. Triplett will almost certainly handle all of the snapping duties barring injury.