Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Lose True Freshman DT to Portal

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The defensive tackle spot is already the thinnest unit on this 2025 Tar Heel roster in terms of depth and on Saturday morning, the depth there took another hit.

According to Pete Nakos of On3 Sports, true freshman defensive tackle Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala has entered his name into the transfer portal after spending the spring in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels. He will have four years of eligibility remaining wherever he lands.

Nwabuisi-Ezeala, the No. 1565 overall prospect and No. 170 defensive lineman in the 2025 class according to 247Sports Composite Player Rankings, was an early enrollee for the team that was hoping to earn some playing time right away. He committed and signed with UNC after spending five years at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee in Rabun Gap, GA. He first saw action with the team back in the spring of 2021 as an 8th grader, playing in two games and tallying three total tackles. His role expanded every year since, with him becoming a major contributor as a sophomore where he finished with 31 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and seven quarterback hurries in nine games. In 2023, as a junior, he had 32 total tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 0.0 sacks and four quarterback hurries in eleven games. He finished his career with the most productive season of his career, racking up 41 total tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and seven quarterback hurries.

With his departure, the Tar Heels defensive tackle room, which went through spring with just seven scholarship players, is now down to just five. The Tar Heels thought they had an addition here yesterday in the form of Maryland transfer Lavon Johnson, but he quickly flipped to Texas, leaving the Tar Heels in a rough spot. The staff now needs to scramble and finding some bodies here as soon as possible, preferably ones that are capable of contributing right away.