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 team following an early-season injury. In his lone season in Chapel Hill, Boone, the former Prairie View A&M transfer, played 98 offensive snaps and seven special teams snaps, starting all three of the games that he played in for the team. Two of those starts came at the left tackle spot, where he actually graded out well prior to suffering his undisclosed injury in the game against Richmond. He finished the season with a 65.3 run block grade, an 81.3 pass block grade and a 72.2 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

His departure is not shocking and shouldn’t have much, if any, effect on the offensive line next season. Following his injury, the Tar Heels turned to converted center Austin Blaske before they had to move him back to center following the injury to Chad Lindberg in the Syracuse game. Since then, the team has used both Jordan Hall and Miles McVay, guys that have the option to return next season. While the team will lose fellow starting tackle Jakai Moore, true freshman Eidan Buchanan and redshirt freshman Jani Norwood will also have the option to return. The team is also expected to add J.B. Shabazz, Nick Fiumara and Eli Rickell to the tackle room for next season out of the high school ranks, so the room looks like it will be in decent shape in terms of depth even after the loss of Boone.