After landing a transfer portal target yesterday, the Tar Heels saw their biggest transfer target head elsewhere.
Earlier this evening, Temple grad transfer Quincy Roche, a player who had been a major target for the Tar Heel staff since he entered the transfer portal a few days after the Owls season came end, announced that he will be transferring to Miami over Carolina, Ohio State, Rutgers and others. This is a tough blow for the Tar Heels, but it was not completely unexpected since the team did not have an available spot to early enroll. The question now becomes where do the Tar Heels go on the defensive line now that there is no chance to land Roche.
There looks to be some talented options already in place, but one that lack experience. Jahlil Taylor and Raymond Vohasek are the early favorites to earn the starting gigs, but there some other returning options that will make their case, as well. Keep an eye on names like Tomari Fox and Xach Gill in the spring, as both will push for reps after playing rotational roles this past season. The talented crop of true freshmen will look to make impacts early, but only one of the five defensive line signees are enrolling early. Still, guys like Clyde Pinder Jr. and Myles Murphy, who won’t arrive until the summer, will be counted on to come in and play a role for this defensive line that will be thin depth wise.
Even with some promising options in place, don’t be shocked if the Tar Heels do look to the transfer portal at some point to bring in an experienced option, especially at nose tackle if Taylor and Pinder don’t show the staff they are capable of handling to role the nose tackle position serves in Jay Bateman’s system. No other targets have emerged just yet, but this is something that will be interesting to keep an eye when the team begins spring practice in the middle of March.
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