Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels One of Two Schools to Receive a Visit From Arizona Transfer DT

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One of the biggest holes that the Tar Heels have on their 2025 roster right now is the defensive tackle spot and it appears that the staff is working on filling that hole as we speak.

According to a report from Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, the Tar Heels are one of two schools along with Tennessee that are set to receive a visit from Arizona transfer defensive tackle Isaiah Johnson. This news comes just a day after he and three of his teammates officially entered the transfer portal. He will have two years of eligibility remaining wherever he eventually lands.

Johnson, a former 3✮ prospect out of high school, spent the last three seasons in Tucson, playing in 12 games and starting one in those three years. After not playing a single snap as a true freshman, Johnson played just 11 defensive snaps in 2023, failing to register any stats. This year, though, he was part of the rotation on the defensive line for the Wildcats, playing 170 snaps and compiling nine total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.

While this wouldn’t necessarily be the addition of an all-conference caliber player, this would be huge for a Tar Heel defensive tackle room that is incredibly thin at this point and sorely in need of players with experience. Let’s hope that this time the staff can overcome the SEC powerhouse in the race for a defensive tackle in the portal.